8 ways to guard against auto repair fraud

Put it in writing. Write down a clear description of your car's problems before you go to the shop. Make sure the mechanic gets a copy. "Have a good description of symptoms. It's best to have that written down," says Robert Krughoff, president of Consumers' Checkbook. "The symptoms are the key to figuring out what's wrong."

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Tell it to the mechanic. Give a written description of your car problems directly to the mechanic. Answer any questions he may have. Give as many details as possible but leave the diagnosis to him. "Be willing to make car noises. The more somebody knows the easier it is," says John Nielsen, director of AAA's Approved Auto Repair Network. "Tell them every detail about what's going on."

Get it in writing. Be sure to ask for everything in writing including work orders, part prices, labor rates and warranty information. Always insist on a written estimate. "Make sure they get an estimate in writing before any repair work is done," says John Dingman, program representative for the Bureau of Automotive Repair in California.

Minimize surprises. Guard yourself against an unexpectedly big repair bill. Ask the shop to contact you before performing any repair that you haven't already agreed to in a work order. Put this request in writing. Ask the shop to add the following line to a work order, "Call customer for authorization of any additional work."

Get a second opinion. Not happy with the estimated cost of an auto repair? Call some other repair shops. "Ask them to fax you the estimate and then call a few other places," Krughoff says. If it's a simple repair, it should be easy to get a list of prices from several different shops. If a garage has to take the car apart before it can diagnose the problem, ask if there will be a cost if you decide to take your car to another shop for the repair. Some shops charge an assembly fee of $400 if you decide to take your business elsewhere.

Watch the warranty. Auto repair warranties vary widely. Some repairs come with no guarantee whatsoever. Other repairs are backed by warranties lasting several years. Body and collision work may come with a lifetime guarantee. Take a close look at a repair shop's guarantee policy and an even closer look at the warranty on each specific repair. "Get a copy of the warranty in writing before you authorize the repair," Dingman says.

Ask for old parts back. If an old or broken part needs to be replaced, ask for it back. That way, you don't have to worry about the shop charging you for a replacement part and not putting it on your car. "Tell them upfront so they'll know you're watching," Krughoff says. And you don't need to be an auto parts expert to try this tactic. "The shop doesn't know for sure what you know," Krughoff says. And if something seems fishy, you could always take the old part to another mechanic.

Learn more about your car. Open up that owner's manual and start reading. "Look at your owner's manual for basic maintenance and other tips -- all the stuff your dad told you about when you got your first car," says Jeannette Kopko, senior vice president at the Better Business Bureau in Dallas. "Understand the basics of how the car works."

Follow all maintenance guidelines spelled out in your owner's manual. Many pricey auto repairs can be avoided by simply taking better care of your car.