Most Americans Don't Really Trust Their Local Mechanic: Study

A new study has found that most drivers in the U.S. don’t trust auto repair shops in general.

The survey, conducted by AAA, asked 1,001 drivers aged 18 and older about what they thought of auto repair shops, with 63 percent responding they generally do not trust them. Despite that, two-thirds of U.S. drivers have found an auto repair shop they trust, while one-third of motorists have not.

The reasons that U.S. drivers lack confidence in auto repair shops include recommendations of unnecessary services (76 percent), overcharging for services (73 percent), negative past experiences (63 percent) and concerns that the work will not be done correctly (49 percent).

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The study also found that older drivers are more likely than younger drivers to trust auto repair shops. One-in-five Baby Boomers reported they “totally trust” the industry, making them twice as likely as younger generations to trust auto repair shops. Compared to Millennials (55 percent) and Gen-Xers (56 percent), Baby Boomers (76 percent) are more likely to have a preferred auto repair shop they go to.

“To minimize the stress associated with vehicle repair and maintenance, it is critical that drivers find an honest repair shop that they can trust with their vehicle,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “AAA found that one-third of U.S. drivers – 75 million motorists in total – have yet to find a trusted repair facility, leaving them vulnerable when trouble strikes.”