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Motor 1
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Woman Doesn't Want to Get Taken Advantage of at the Mechanic. So She Puts on a Disguise
A woman on TikTok says she dressed up as a man—fake beard and all—before heading to the mechanic in hopes of avoiding being taken advantage of. Taylor (@ filmed herself stepping out of her car wearing a backward baseball cap and a fake beard. The video doesn't show her leaving the shop or reveal what work she needed done, so it's unclear whether her disguise was effective or if the video was just for laughs. Still, Taylor suggests that the costume felt necessary. "When you're a girl taking your car to the mechanic and you don't want them to take advantage of you," she writes in the overlay. "Is this a universal experience or just me?" she adds in the caption. As of Sunday, her TikTok had amassed more than 2.4 million views. Do Mechanics Really Overcharge Women? There's no definitive proof that women are routinely scammed at auto shops, but anecdotal evidence and some research suggests it's not just in their heads. In a 2022 post on the AskMechanics subreddit, one user claimed they avoided two different shops because coworkers openly bragged about ripping off women. Others chimed in, saying it's not just a gender issue—it's opportunism. "If some 'nerdy' guy turns up, I'm sure it would be the same,' one commenter wrote. Bloggers and auto experts have compiled lists of lies they claim are commonly told to women. These include saying that a part needs replacing when it doesn't, inflating prices, or claiming the car is due for services when it actually isn't. A deep dive from The Atlantic found that women, especially those who seemed less informed, were quoted higher prices than men for the same repairs. But one piece of research cited in the article attributes this not to outright sexism but to something called statistical discrimination. "Shops believe, rightly or wrongly, that women know less about cars," the researchers wrote. "In the absence of information to the contrary, they will be offered a higher quote." Trending Now 'She Just Bought This Car': Mechanic Works on 2018 Ford Edge With 92,000 Miles, Then It Starts Misfiring 'The Best Or Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done': Woman Buys $500 Toyota Tacoma. Then She Takes It Off-Roading In other words, it's not personal—it's predatory. If you seem uninformed, you're more likely to get fleeced. That said, the researchers found another interesting upside: Women who asked for discounts were more likely to receive them than men. So, having the confidence to ask can literally pay off. How to avoid getting ripped off If, like Taylor, you fear being lied to by a mechanic, here's what you can do to protect yourself: Ask to see the problem. If they can't show you, they may be bluffing. Be specific. Describe the issue in detail. This signals that you're not an easy mark. Do your homework. Research common issues for your car model and look up average repair costs. Get a second opinion. One quote shouldn't be the only one you trust. Go with certified shops. National Institute for Auto Service Excellence-certified mechanics or those recommended by your insurance provider are usually more trustworthy. Taylor may have gone all out with her disguise, but you don't need a fake beard—just a little research and confidence. Viewers Applaud the Woman's Ingenuity Commenters said they wouldn't go quite that far to avoid getting scammed, but gave Taylor props for fully committing to the bit. 'Looking like someone's alcoholic uncle,' one woman quipped. 'They might offer you a job, sister,' a second echoed. 'Who's taking advantage of who?' said a third commenter who was clearly amused. Others said that Taylor actually pulled off the guy look—short shorts and all. 'I thought you were the mechanic,' one viewer said. 'I thought a homeless guy was trying to enter your car,' another added. 'Go in there and take something expensive before you leave,' a third suggested. 'No one will notice.' Motor1 has reached out to Taylor via TikTok comment. We will be sure to update this article if she responds. More From Motor1 Liberty Walk Designed a Mechanical Keyboard, For Some Reason Woman Gets Dealership Oil Change For Her Brand-New Toyota Tundra. Then She Catches the Technician In a Lie Every Hot Hatchback You Can Buy In 2025 Woman Starts Driving. Then Water Starts Pouring Onto Her Mercedes G-Wagon's Dashboard and Touchscreen Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
4 Ways To Use Your Car for Passive Income in the Next Year
Looking for ways to make extra money? Look no further than the car you're driving. According to experts, the car you have can become a moneymaker if you know the right ways to put it to work. Read More: Find Out: GOBankingRates spoke with two auto experts to find out how to make your car work for you and how much money you can expect to earn. Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert with highly recommends using Turo to rent out your car. Provided your car has less than 100,000 miles on it and is worth less than $200,000, according to Turo's eligibility guidelines, you can make money by renting out your car to people who are looking to drive around your city for a bit. 'Depending on your vehicle, you could make $100 a day or even more,' Musson said. Turo's website also had a figure that households renting out one car can pocket an extra $10,000 a year. You can get even more if you have more cars to rent out. Discover Next: People are always going to need rides and want food delivered, which is good news for people looking for another income stream. Auto expert and general manager at Find By Plate, Ruth Calkins, said drivers can use their cars to drive for ridesharing or deliver food. Earning potential, Calkins said, really depends on the specific app. 'Car owners [are] able to earn as high as $10-$25 per hour, although different platforms may have different rates.' Making money off your car can be as easy as affixing an ad to the door. 'With wraps and magnetic graphics, you can turn your car into an advertisement,' Musson said. Calkins agreed with Musson, saying if drivers know where to go, they can earn up to $500 a month advertising. 'Things like how much they drive, the routes they take, and the areas they frequent, because at the end of the day, the point of advertising isn't just to get messages across, but also to ensure that these messages get across to the right audience, and make enough of an impression.' Did you know that companies want to study your vehicle? Musson said that looking for studies concerning driving or drivers could earn you some extra money. 'Some research groups actually will pay you to allow them to monitor your driving habits and where you go. You could earn $100 a month through this avenue.' More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Tells Americans To Stock Up on Consumables as Trump's Tariffs Hit -- Here's What To Buy This article originally appeared on 4 Ways To Use Your Car for Passive Income in the Next Year Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
