The 3 Most Important Tips for Women to Avoid Paying More Money for Auto Repairs

Let's take a moment for a little girl talk. There will be no fashion advice, makeup tips or any guycandy/eyecandy pics happening here. Let's talk about empowerment. Female empowerment comes in many forms, I am educating and informing women about the 3 most important tips to avoid unfairly paying more money for auto repairs and vehicle safety.

Thank you to the team from RepairPal for sponsoring this advertorial with informative content and a promotional product.

The 3 Most Important Tips for Women 

to Avoid Paying More for Auto Repairs

Times have changed and we, as women have made historic advances in an age where female CEOs have the earning potential to make more money than their male counterparts and female soldiers stand side-by-side men in combat. Unfortunately, there are people that continue to believe that the car industry is still very much “a man's world.” 

When I think back to my childhood memories, my family without hesitation, designated either my father or my grandfather as liaisons for all issues car related. Essentially buying into the common practice of having a man present when visiting auto repair shops or car dealerships. The occurrences of women being overcharged or targeted for unfair practices seems to be a fairly common concern in the automotive industry.

I recently partnered with RepairPal, a leading auto repair estimator site, to share some statistics and data supporting this discriminatory issue. Information released from the RepairPal Institute Gender Bias Study found evidence that uncertified shops routinely charged women up to as much as 73% more money than men for auto repairs.

* Nationwide, women are overcharged by an average of 8% compared to men. 

* In big cities like LA, San Francisco, and New York, women are overcharged by a whopping average of 66%.

* In smaller cities, women are overcharged by a lower amount (average of around 3%), but it's still significant.

* The greater New York area is the worst, with women overcharged by an average of 73%.

Here's how to become informed and empowered consumers, as a vast majority of shops are taking advantage of a perceived general lack of automotive knowledge amongst women. As knowledgable, educated women, the stereotypical and unfair practices will be addressed and stopped.

Through our partnership with RepairPal, women (and some men, too) are being offered some valuable tips and strategies to help consumers to receive fair pricing and to avoid becoming victim to overpriced repairs and unfair practices.

Tip #1 - Get a Visual

The saying goes, "A picture is worth 1,000 words", always ask your technicians to show you the problem area on your car or to give you before-and-after photos to use as a useful way to educate yourself.

Tip #2 - Use An Estimator

Once the automotive problem has been professionally diagnosed, use an online estimator tool as a means of getting an accurate idea of fair price guidelines for auto repairs.

Tip #3 - The Manual is Your Friend

Refer to your vehicle's owner's manual and familiarize yourself with your vehicle. Understanding your car, the warning lights and corresponding systems gives you an informed advantage.

There is so much more research and many more tips focused on ensuring that we are getting a fair price and using a trusted, certified mechanic at RepairPal.com.  Find useful information about choosing certified auto repair shops and where to find one in your area. 

Let Us Know

Have you ever visited an auto repair shop and been overcharged for services? Have you already been impressed by the fair standards and prices from a RepairPal shop? Let us know what your auto repair experiences have been in the comments below.

As the owner of this blog, niecyisms and nestlings, I am compensated to provide my opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. This blog may contain affiliate links. Even though, as the writer/owner of this blog receiving compensation for posts or advertisements, I will always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs or experiences on those topics or products. This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. I believe in the honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.