'We Can See That:' St Louis Man Calls Insurance Company for a Quote. Then They Share Something Unexpected About Car's History
"They were like abnormally higher than what I’ve currently been paying."
If you needed another reason to hate dealership service departments, this man’s experience getting quoted for insurance rates might do the trick.
TikTok user Zane (@clinicallyinzane) posted a clip where he learns that dealerships record the mileage of his vehicle whenever he gets oil changes. Then he finds out this data was obtained by an insurance provider he received a quote from, purportedly resulting in a higher rate.
“So I went and called and got some insurance quotes for my car today. And I noticed they were like abnormally higher than what I’ve currently been paying,” Zane says. “Like, well, you drive a lot. I never told you how much I drive. Which I’ve done a lot of driving in the beginning part of the year.”
“And they’re like, well, you know when you go to the dealership and you get oil changes, cause my car’s still under warranty, [...] well, the dealership logged your mileage. And we can see that.”
At this point in the video, he squints his eyes in apparent frustration. Then he says, “Y’all know everything, everything. What don’t you know? Do you know how big it is? They probably do,” he quips before his video comes to a close.
Should You Get Your Car Serviced At A Dealership?
Throngs of auto enthusiasts caution drivers against utilizing dealership-based car service centers. This logic is rooted in one core argument: dealership business models fundamentally do not incentivize long-term vehicle ownership and prioritize profits over customer satisfaction
One Redditor explained how folks should go about locating a good mechanic for their car maintenance needs in the site’s r/LifeProTips sub. They contend that dealerships charge higher labor fees, and recommend getting quotes from local, independent mechanic shops instead.
The YouTube account Car Help Corner published a video highlighting some of the issues folks should look out for at center dealer-specific mechanic businesses. In a clip titled “How dealers rip you off on service & repairs,” the channel references several expenditures consumers should be cognizant of. These include “overcharging, warranty voiding, major repair overpricing, and using aftermarket parts.”
The retirement-centric blog Abandoned Cubicle also maligned dealership service centers after being quoted $1,200 to replace a hatch door assembly on their Honda Fit. These parts usually run anywhere from $30 to $50 online.
Judging from this auto tech’s tutorial on how to replace this particular component, one may be hard-pressed to justify why labor would cost more than $1,000.
Dealership Mechanic Speaks Out
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Yahoo published an article from the perspective of a 10-year dealership mechanic who also advised against auto-manufacturer-branded shops. They shared which 10 jobs they’d never go to a dealership for. These include:
- Tire rotations/replacements,
- Body work,
- Wiper Blade Replacements,
- Windshield Replacements,
- Oil Changes,
- Air Filters,
- Brake Pads,
- Battery Replacement,
- Fluid Top-Offs, and
- Spark Plugs
The mechanic went on to highlight that in many of the aforementioned service tasks, dealerships will upcharge double or triple what independent mechanics charge. They also contended many of these jobs, like swapping out wiper blades, cabin air filters, and even spark plugs, are very doable at home.
The same dealership tech recommended drivers find a “trustworthy local mechanic” instead of bringing it to a dealer.
Insurance Rates And Car Mileage
Bakersfield, California news station KBAK also reported that participating auto shops log customer mileage/odometer data, which is then shared to third-party companies. In a piece about this phenomena, the outlet highlighted an experience of one commuter where rates for her 2011 Chevrolet Malibu went up, seemingly out of nowhere.
She soon learned the shop she frequented for services logged and reported her mileage to Carfax. Subsequently, insurance companies referred to this database to then slap customers with higher coverage premiums.
In the same piece, KBAK spoke with a representative of the Malibu driver’s insurance company, American National. The insurance rep referred to a California state law that allows providers “to get information about your vehicle from sources with the government, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, [along with] other companies, like Carfax.”
Motor1 has reached out to Carfax via email and Zane via TikTok comment for further information. We’ll update this if either responds.
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