What NOT to Look for in an Auto Repair Shop: Avoid These Common Red Flags

By Lloyd Beverly, 4th Generation Owner and ASE Master Tech at Harrell & Beverly

Having a solid relationship with your auto repair shop can save you money, reduce stress, and keep your vehicle humming along for years. At Harrell & Beverly, we’ve heard just about every story from folks who came to us after a rough experience somewhere else. Spoiler alert: it’s usually not the car’s fault.

Here are five red flags you should watch out for when choosing an auto repair shop:

For full disclosure, I own an auto repair shop. There are plenty of fine shops out there, and some that are less than stellar. My goal is to help you differentiate between the two.

1. Free Testing

Free is great when it comes to samples at Costco, but not so much when it comes to diagnosing your vehicle. Real testing takes time, professional training, and some pretty pricey equipment. If a shop isn’t charging for that, they’re either planning to make it up somewhere else or they’re not digging deep enough to truly figure out what’s wrong.

At Harrell & Beverly, we charge fairly for diagnostics because it allows us to give you real answers instead of guesses. We also spend time taking pictures, video, and writing up a clear report to share with you.

It’s kind of like going to the doctor. If someone’s poking around under the hood, don’t you want them to actually know what they’re looking for?

Bottom line: Free isn’t always a deal. Sometimes it just means you’re paying in other ways, whether that's in lack of knowledge, quality, or quick fixes.

2. High-Pressure Sales Tactics

High-pressure sales tactics have no place in a reputable shop, and you should never feel forced into making decisions. The best repair facilities educate you and provide all the information you need so you can make the best decision for your vehicle. When critical safety issues arise, you deserve a trusted partner, not one that leaves you wondering if you’re being taken for a ride.

Bottom line: If a shop pressures you instead of empowering you, it’s time to walk.

3. Bad First Impressions

You know that saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover?” Great advice, unless that cover is covered in oil stains and smells like sadness.

If a shop looks chaotic, unclean, or downright sketchy, you have every right to wonder how they’ll treat your car. A tidy, organized, professional environment usually reflects the same level of care behind the scenes.

We keep our shop clean, our team approachable, and our snack game strong. First impressions matter, and we want yours to be a good one.

Bottom line: If it looks like no one cares, it’s probably because no one does.

4. Poor Communication

Cars are complicated, but that doesn’t mean explanations have to be. If a shop is tossing jargon at you or leaving you hanging without updates, it’s a problem.

We believe in keeping you in the loop — with clear estimates, visual inspections, videos, photos, and easy-to-understand explanations. You don’t need an engineering degree to understand what’s happening to your car. And if you ever do hear someone mention a flux capacitor... run.

Bottom line: If you can't talk to a live person, your vehicle has been sitting at the shop for weeks, or you did not receive a clear explanation of your car's needs, or you were not provided with a professional estimate and timeline for repairs, move along to another shop.

5. Weak/Sketchy Customer Reviews

Online reviews are basically today’s word-of-mouth. If a shop has a bunch of one-star reviews and no responses, that’s your cue to keep scrolling. On the flip side, if every review is a generic five stars with no context, it could be too good to be true.

Look for consistent feedback, detailed customer stories, and a business that takes time to reply thoughtfully. We’re proud of our reviews because they reflect what we work hard to provide: real service, from real people, who really care about your car.

We’ve even been voted “Best Auto Repair” in Sanford for many years, and we’re not stopping there.

Bottom line: Reviews are like a test drive for trust. Look for honest, detailed ones — and remember, even all five-star reviews can be a red flag if they sound too polished or vague.

Final Thoughts

There’s no shortage of auto repair shops out there. Some are great. Some... not so much. When you focus on the right things (transparency, professionalism, communication, and real customer satisfaction) you’ll find a place that actually cares. We hope you've learned a little about what auto repair shop red flags to watch out for.

If you’re in Sanford or nearby, we’d love to be that place. Harrell & Beverly is a fourth-generation, family-owned shop that’s been serving our community since 1959. We treat you like family, we take the time to explain things, and we care more about doing the job right than rushing you out the door.

If that sounds like the kind of experience you want, we’re just a phone call (or click) away.