Drivers who shop for car repairs by calling three shops and picking the lowest number are likely to pay more in the long run, according to Bryce Neighbors, owner of Young's Automotive Service Center in Covina, California. Neighbors, an ASE-certified master technician, says that a cheap quote often hides cheaper parts, skipped steps, or missed problems that can lead to repeat repairs.
"A quote by itself doesn't tell you much," Neighbors said. "It doesn't tell you what parts are being used, how much time is actually going into the job, or whether the shop checked for anything else that might fail next month."
That gap in information can be costly. A low bid may rely on inferior components, omit a related service that should be done at the same time, or stem from a cursory look rather than a proper inspection. Neighbors said he has seen customers pay less upfront and then pay again a few months later when the real problem surfaces.
"I'd rather tell a customer the full picture and lose the job to a lower bid than win the job and have their car back here in six weeks," he said. That approach has cost him work, but he said it has also built the repeat business that sustains a small independent shop.
Neighbors points to brake work as a common example. A shop can quote pads alone and leave out rotors that are already worn past a safe thickness. The price looks better on paper, but the car is not actually fixed correctly, which raises safety concerns for the driver and anyone on the road.
To help consumers compare estimates fairly, Neighbors advises asking what is behind each number. A fair quote should account for the parts being used, the labor the job actually takes, and anything connected to the repair that needs attention at the same time.
"If two shops give you different numbers, ask why," Neighbors said. "A shop that can explain the difference in plain language is usually the one doing the job properly."
He also recommends a short list of questions: What parts are included? Is labor time close between the shops? Did anyone physically inspect the vehicle, or was the quote given over the phone? The answers, he said, usually explain the price gap better than the number itself.
Neighbors built his approach around service writing software and diagnostic tools that let him document exactly what a vehicle needs before any work starts, rather than guessing at a number over the phone. He said that documentation helps protect customers from paying for the wrong fix.
His standards come from years of experience as an ASE-certified master technician and from teaching automotive technology full time at Citrus College. He purchased Young's Automotive Service Center in 2020 and continues to operate the shop today.
"Price matters. I'm not telling anyone to ignore it," Neighbors said. "I'm telling them not to treat it as the whole answer. The real cost of a repair includes whether it holds up."
For the automotive repair industry, the message highlights a tension between competitive pricing and quality work. Shops that cut corners to win on price may face comebacks and reputational damage, while those that document their work may lose price-sensitive customers. For drivers, the implication is that the lowest quote is not always the best value, and asking a few direct questions can reveal whether a repair is built to last.
