the questions worth asking your service advisor

most people feel awkward questioning a repair estimate, as though asking implies you think somebody is lying.

it does not. a good advisor would rather answer than have you leave uncertain, and the questions below are ordinary ones.

before the work

"what made you check that?" useful because it separates something you reported from something found on inspection from something that came up on a checklist.

"what happens if I leave it?" the most useful question on this list. the answer sorts the list into urgent, soon and eventually, and lets you spend on the right things first.

"is that a safety issue, or is it going to get more expensive?" two very different reasons to do a job now, and both are legitimate. you are entitled to know which one applies.

"can you show me?" on a hoist, most things are visible. a worn ball joint can be demonstrated. a leaking gasket can be pointed at.

"is that the price including parts, labour and tax?" saves the most common surprise at the counter.

"are those parts new, aftermarket or reconditioned?" all three are legitimate in the right place, and you should know which you are buying.

during

"call me before the price changes." say it out loud, so it is agreed rather than assumed.

after

"can I see the old parts?" you are entitled to them in Ontario, aside from some warranty returns.

"what should I expect next?" a good advisor knows what is coming up on your vehicle and can tell you roughly when, which lets you plan rather than react.

"is there anything I could do differently?" sometimes the answer is about how the vehicle is driven or stored rather than about parts.

two questions that are always fair

"can I have that in writing?"

"I would like to think about it." nothing on a car that is safe to drive has to be decided at the counter that minute. if somebody makes you feel it does, that is information about the shop.

why we would rather you asked

an unasked question becomes a customer who is not sure they were dealt with straight, and that person does not come back and does not say why.