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Mechanics are not always out to rip you off. But if don’t ask the right questions, you’ll likely overpay all on your own. By Brett Graff Sale signs are everywhere - but not in the mechanic windows. Most people spend about $350 each time they head in to the mechanic for car repairs, estimates Steve Shaw, an expert on all-things-automotive and also the author of Cheating the Dealer. And that amount is growing each year. In fact, prices for car repairs rose by 11 percent since the start of the recession, according to the Consumer Price Index. You can't blame dealerships and repair shops - businesses only lower prices when customers refuse to pay the higher ones. And let's face it, car repairs are critical. 
Before trying to learn to install your own break pads - in fact, please don't - think instead about better ways to shoot the breeze with your mechanic. Yes, because by simply asking a few savvy questions, you can reduce the amount of your repair bill. Here are four key questions that will take you miles from overpaying. 
Question No. 1: What’s the most important item to be fixed today? You bring your car to the dealer or repair shop because the “Check Engine Light” is aglow. But the repair woman returns to you announcing she’s going to perform more procedures on your car than Joan Rivers’ has had on her face. “Ask her: ‘What’s it going to take to turn that light off,” says Shaw. It may very well be that you can just replace a sensor today and budget for the maintenance items, which can be repaired later on. “It’s our job at a dealership what’s wrong with your car,” says Shaw. “I don’t want you to be surprised with even malfunctioning wiper-blades when you’re packed and ready to go on a road trip. But it doesn't mean you have to pay for all of that immediately.” Question No. 2. Can you itemize the parts and labor? You’ve probably never heard of The Labor Time Guide (if you have you definitely don't need this article) but apparently every dealership in the country has a few copies stacked on the shelves. It’s the bible of car repair and documents how much time it takes to perform any operation on your car and how much each one should cost, says Shaw. “Feel free to ask the mechanic to show you in the book,” says Shaw. You’ll also want to know the rate you’re paying for labor. “There’s no right or wrong answer,” says Shaw, who notes that $75 to $100 is a national range. “But you have a right to know and it seems high, call around and check on your mechanic.” Question No. 3. Will you match competitor’s coupons? “In any city in the world you can open a newspaper and find a coupon for the exact problem you’re having with your car,” says Shaw. Bring in coupons from other dealerships or independent repair facilities and ask the service person to honor those prices at the dealership. “Most will either honor the coupons or at least give you a price concession,” says Shaw. “Car dealerships are just as sensitive to today’s economy as anyone else.” Question No. 4: Can I have a discount. Or free stuff? “Most dealers will give you a 10 percent off, easily,” says Shaw. “If you’re a good negotiator, you might get 15 percent,” he says. When it comes to items such as tires, ask for a buy three and get one free offer. Also as for a free four wheel alignment with the purchase of your tires.
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