Car repair estimates online
A new Web site called RepairPal estimates the cost of car repairs. It takes into account the vehicle's make, model and your location. The site claims to provide "impartial, fair price estimates, the most comprehensive auto shop directory, and expert insights and advice from certified mechanics."
I got an estimate for replacing a front headlight on my MINI, which indeed is broken, and RepairPal said it would cost between $63 and $78. When I called the dealer, however, they said it would be $90. Hmmm...
RepairPal says they spent "more than a year researching, collecting, converting, cleaning, analyzing, and structuring many sources of data" to come up with accurate estimates. Read more about their methodology here.
Maybe they need to keep tinkering with their formula. Or maybe the dealer is ripping me off. Either way, I'm hoping Hubby will be able to fix it. He's very handy!
RepairPal also suggests repair shops. Thanks, Ryan!
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About The Bargain Hunter
Daily News staff writer Julia Scott loves to find bargains on everything from groceries to Gucci. Her tips will help keep your hard earned cash where it belongs - in your pocket.
Julia: Your dealer is charging too much, if it is above the Repair Pal limit.
And, if you like that site, you should also love www.retrevo.com, which helps you get the best price on consumer electronics, updating the price every day...
Headlights are indeed fairly easy to fix. I'm just a regular person, with little car repair knowledge, and I've replaced headlights a couple of times. It may be helpful to buy a repair book for your vehicle with photos and directions. Go for it!
Have a look at www.FairRepair.com. Our service will generate an accurate estimate (No ranges) giving you the exact labor time with average labor rates in your area calculated from a 65K record repair facility. Our service also lists out the exact OEM Part # & Price. Our system uses MOTOR Information Systems Parts & Labor data, the same data used by a majority of repair facilities in the US.