# Do auto mechanics have a reputation for being dishonest outside USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2004, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-auto-mechanics-have-a-reputation-for-being-dishonest-outside-usa/223399 "2004-01-08T11:50:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![1kBR\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/dc4da7/32.png) [@1kBR\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1kBR_Kid)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-auto-mechanics-have-a-reputation-for-being-dishonest-outside-usa/223399/1 "2004-01-08T11:50:49Z")
I’m in the USA and I dread the thought of going to a mechanic. I recently had a problem on my car and I bought a bunch of tools, a repair manual. and the parts so I could repair it myself. There have been undercover “stings” on mechanics ripping people off on news programs. Are all or most mechanics dishonest? I have no idea, but enough of them are that they have a pretty bad reputation in the US. What about where you live? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-auto-mechanics-have-a-reputation-for-being-dishonest-outside-usa/223399/2 "2004-01-08T12:08:21Z")
There have been similar stings here but I don’t believe that mechanics are generally considered dishonest. I have found an honest one whereever I have been living. They are nowhere near as dishonest as psychics, drug dealers or politicians. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-auto-mechanics-have-a-reputation-for-being-dishonest-outside-usa/223399/3 "2004-01-08T12:14:04Z")
My personal experiences include mostly honest mechanices, one incompetent, and one highly suspect of being a crook. Interestingly, the one I think was a crook was years ago when I was, I suppose, a more vulnerable target. I’m no expert by any means, but I know enough about cars to ask intelligent questions, so I’m pretty sure I don’t get ripped off. I did get a kick out of the guy who wanted to do something on my diesel car to extend the life of my catalytic converter… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-auto-mechanics-have-a-reputation-for-being-dishonest-outside-usa/223399/4 "2004-01-08T12:16:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*I did get a kick out of the guy who wanted to do something on my diesel car to extend the life of my catalytic converter… :rolleyes: \*\* Really? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-auto-mechanics-have-a-reputation-for-being-dishonest-outside-usa/223399/5 "2004-01-08T12:40:30Z")
Really. I don’t know if he was crooked or just clueless. ---
**Author:** ![rich\_mcg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@rich\_mcg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rich_mcg)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-auto-mechanics-have-a-reputation-for-being-dishonest-outside-usa/223399/6 "2004-01-08T12:40:43Z")
I’ve got to agree with FairyChatMom - ignorance may be bliss, but it can also mean a soft target to an unscrupulous mechanic/tv repairman/preacher… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-auto-mechanics-have-a-reputation-for-being-dishonest-outside-usa/223399/7 "2004-01-08T12:42:14Z")
Both the crooked & utterly incompetant are common in the auto repair community. For an honest mechanic, look for the most crowded shop in town.