I’m an expert mechanic – MOT scams could be costing you thousands

AN EXPERT mechanic has revealed the most common MOT scams that could be costing you thousands of pounds.

There are some rogue mechanics out there who may be exaggerating the severity of your vehicles “problems”.

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There are a number of services that mechanics may seem are urgent in a bid to scam and overcharge customers.

Former mechanic Steve Larsson told the John O’Groat Journal: “It’s important to be aware of rogue mechanics who may try to take advantage of customers by exaggerating the severity of problems and recommending unnecessary repairs.

“It’s always a good idea to get a second opinion if you’re unsure about a repair, and to choose a reputable mechanic or garage with a good reputation and industry certifications.

The first repair service on Steve’s list is wear on brake pads.

You can usually tell is your brake pads are worn if you experience screeching while braking, heavy vibrating or your car pulling to one side as you press down on the brake pedal – according to the RAC.

The second most common “unnecessary repair” is misalignment of wheels.

Although this can sometimes be used to con people out of money while at the mechanics, they should be mindful that if their wheels are misaligned this can lead to uneven tire wear and shorter tire life.

The expert also mentioned engine flushes, fuel system cleaning and transmission fluid changes as potential services which some dodgy mechanics may make seem more urgent than they actually are.

This comes after one more expert mechanic revealed the top three car repair scams that being aware of could save you thousands of pounds,

TikTok user @kingregis claims that just because you have a flat tyre, it doesn’t always mean it needs to be replaced.

He said: “Depending on where the nail or puncture is located, you could easily get it plugged instead of replacing the entire tyre – which is a quarter of the cost.

Another motors expert said he made more than £1,500 by repairing a damaged car and selling it online.

The man bought the car relatively cheaply as it had quite severe damage to the passenger door – then took to social media to show users how he earned the big bucks by repairing it and selling it on in just a few days.

TikTok user @cartradeuk1 bought a (Cat S) Nissan Juke for £4,950 and was able to repair the damaged door for £600.

In just five days, he managed to sell the car for a whopping £7,000.

And another motors expert revealed the features that will make your car more valuable when you come to sell it.

The most-wanted car features of 2023, based on filtered searches made by vehicle buyers, are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.

Searches for cars with the smartphone-mirroring tech were 61% and 49% higher on the Cinch car website in January 2023 than in August 2022.