Your car is in the shop and the estimate for repairs just came back. The bottom line is almost enough to put a good down payment on a replacement car. This begs the question: Is your garage charging you too much?

The answer to that question isn’t as hard to find out as you might think. Even if you know absolutely nothing about cars, you can ferret out information that will help you decide whether you want the job done at your present garage or not.

Now, back to that estimate; you will need a copy in writing. Make sure it details not only the parts that need replacing, but also the estimated labor time and costs. With this in hand, it’s time to do a little bit of research.

To get started, contact other garages for over-the-phone estimates. Tell them exactly what your mechanic said is wrong, what parts need to be replaced and the estimated labor time involved. See what kind of quotes they come back with. Keep in mind you will want to deal with reputable garages for the secondary quotes. If the offers come back much lower than your garage, you might want to consider going elsewhere.

If you do not have the time to call around, use the Internet to help you. You can get a reasonable estimate on parts costs and even labor time by doing a search online.

Repair bills can be costly and if you have a trusted garage, chances are the quote is fair. If something seems off or you’re just not sure the price is right, do check things out. It never hurts to get a second opinion before signing off on a costly repair job.