A Tampa, Florida, mechanic with 20 years of experience shares 10 major red flags to watch for when getting car maintenance. To the everyday driver, getting service done on your vehicle can be intimidating and stressful if you have limited knowledge. Unfortunately, some auto repair businesses know this and take advantage to earn an extra few bucks. It’s even been speculated that women get charged more because of this. However, mechanic Fadi Atiq (@kevinkyle123s) advises on what to look out for when navigating auto service to save you from being ripped off. "If you spot one of these, be careful. If you spot two, walk out," Atiq advises. His TikTok has generated over 2,200 views as of this writing. 10 Signs Your Mechanic Is Ripping You Off "If you’ve ever wondered, ‘Is my mechanic ripping me off?’ Chances are, you’re not crazy for thinking it," the mechanic begins. According to him, here are the 10 red flags to look out for when getting your vehicle serviced: They Can’t Show You Proof: If there is no physical, photo, or video evidence, be wary. "If they can’t show you, they don’t want to show you," Atiq shares. Everything Is Urgent: If every item of the report is marked as ‘critical’ to repair, the shop is trying to use fear to land the sale. "Good shops will break it down," he mentions. Shops typically classify repairs into three categories: urgent, maintenance, and things that can wait. "If everything is red on your inspection, then they are lying," Atiq says. Verbal Quotes vs. Written Estimates: Verbal quotes mean the price will be whatever the shop decides it is after the service is done. Always request a written estimate that includes the prices of parts, labor, taxes, and fees. "No paperwork equals no trust," Atiq reveals. No Warranty on Repairs: "If a shop doesn’t offer a warranty, they don’t trust their own work," Atiq believes. He says warranties are typically one year/12,000 miles, with some better shops doing 24- or 36-month warranties. "No warranty equals major red flag," he shares. Skip Diagnostics and Guess: A quick listen doesn’t entirely give the full picture of the replacement needed. Diagnostics take tools, time, and testing, he says. When a mechanic just listens for a few moments, it shouldn’t be trusted. "Guessing is expensive and dangerous," Atiq says. Pushing Cheap Parts Without Telling You: "Not all parts are equal," Atiq begins. When the repair quote is cheap, it’s most likely due to having cheap parts. When this happens, ask for what grade, warranty, and brand is being used. "If they dodge the question, that’s on purpose," he reveals. Price Change After You Approve the Job: All changes in price should receive your approval before the more expensive service is completed. "That’s actually the law," Atiq mentions. They Won’t Give You Your Old Parts Back: This mechanic believes the parts may not have been replaced at all if they refuse to let you have the old parts. "Always say, ‘Save my old parts for me," he suggests. Zero Transparency About Labor Time: "If they say something like, ‘Labor is labor,’ just run," he shares. He says every job will have a standard labor time, and every customer should be able to ask how long the job should take. Additionally, they should ask for the labor rate and what book is being referred to for the quote. "If they get annoyed, that’s intentional," Atiq says. They Rush You Into Making a Decision: "Shady shops hate when you take your time," he starts. He says a shop may try to push you into a quick decision by mentioning how busy it is, that prices change quickly, or that they have already taken your car apart. "Nope," Atiq says. "Remember, guys: You always have the right to stop, think, and shop around." Additionally, the mechanic shares that multiple reviews saying the same thing tell a story. "If you see review after review saying the same thing, ‘rude advisors,’ ‘overpriced,’ ‘unnecessary repair,’ that’s not a coincidence. Patterns tell the truth," Atiq shares. Is No Warranty Offer A Major Red Flag? Atiq’s fourth tip states that the warranty length determines the service's trustworthiness. Let’s revisit that point. "The shop I work at, the warranty is three years, 36,000 miles. No warranty equals major red flag," Atiq says. Atiq's point is that if the shop does great work, they are willing to address any issues that arise. Now, if there is no warranty, he is implying the shop may be sketchy with service. Having a warranty for a repair can give new customers confidence. This warranty offer can be a key selling point to secure the job. For example, GreatWater 360 Auto Care offers a three-year/36,000-mile nationwide warranty. The shop promotes guaranteed repairs and no-pressure service. "It’s our commitment to maintenance and repair excellence, using quality parts, and making things right in the rare case something isn’t," per the website. When a customer sees this type of commitment, it can provide a significant boost in confidence and trust. It gives walking-the-walk type energy. One independent shop even offers a five-year/40,000-mile warranty. When you see a repair shop that doesn’t offer a warranty, it's worth paying attention to and treating as a red flag. Some mechanics get upset over warranty work and may opt out entirely. As Atiq mentions, you can always shop and receive quotes from different auto repair shops. With any repair, costs can quickly add up, so it’s best to find a shop with strong reviews and a warranty to back up their work. How Did The Mechanic’s Tips Land? Viewers chimed in with appreciation for Atiq's tips when dealing with auto service. "Thank you as a woman I have been ripped off. I don’t know how many times," one TikTok commenter said. "I was just ripped off....I asked them to do a diagnostic...they would not do it....they still haven't fixed my car! am going elsewhere," another shared. "I appreciate this information but it’s sad you have to make it. Why does car buying and car repair always seem to be shady?" a third added. Motor1 has contacted Atiq via TikTok direct message and commented on the post. We’ll update this if he responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team