I’ve had a terrible history with mechanics. I don’t know how I manage to find the worst mechanic in every city where I live but I seem to be a magnet for them. The only good thing about this long history is that I can spot a bad mechanic from a mile away.

Some of the warning signs that your mechanic might not be a good one:

- He doesn’t take you seriously because you’re a woman. I can’t tell you how many bad mechanics have started off talking to me in a condescending tone just because I’m a girl.

- There isn’t anyone there having their car worked on. It’s nice when your mechanic can fit you in right away but it’s a bad sign if you never see any other customers in there.

- He tells you that parts are interchangeable. I once had a mechanic tell me that my Toyota 4runner parts could be replaced with Toyota Highlander parts. It turned out to not be true and it caused me a bunch of problems. Make sure you double-check this if your mechanic suggests it.

- He’s too cheap or too pricey. My best luck has always been with mechanics that charge a fair and average price for their work.

Do you have any other tips for what people should look out for when trying to determine if their mechanic is a bad one?

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