A Simple Overview of How Much A Car Diagnostic Test Cost?

When it comes to cars, the initial purchase is only part of the price you pay. In addition to all of the insurance you need to pay monthly, the paperwork to put the car in your name, and the gas you buy to get around, you have to worry about maintaining them and fixing any issues. 

Most of us know that we have to get our oil changed on a regular basis and, of course, we need new tires from time to time. Past that, not everyone knows what to do. Supposedly, when the check engine light comes on, it is time to get something taken care of, but that can be iffy, too. I cannot tell you how many cars I have had that had a check engine light on from the time I bought them. 

When I would take them to get them checked out, no one would find anything wrong. The cars were still running, but that did not make me any less paranoid. Personally, I am not a fan of being stuck on the side of the road, so I would be hyper-aware of any little thing that sounded or felt different.

Finally, a friend asked why I did not get one of my cars hooked up to a diagnostic machine. I could not remember ever hearing of one, so I was unsure of what I should think. I did wonder, though, how much it would cost and if I paid for one, would I have money left over for any needed repairs. If you are new to this, you are probably wondering those same things. 

What Exactly Is a Car Diagnostic Test?

Let’s start with understanding what it is. Everything runs on data- seriously. The types of data differ, but everything- even everyone- needs it to function properly. Knowing how much milk to add to your recipe is data. Understanding which colors match to make a good outfit is data. Even what you are reading now is data that informs you about what is a car diagnostic test cost and what it can do for you. 

Report on What Is Not Working Properly

Cars have information- or data- too.

When a car is hooked to a diagnostic testing machine, it shares this data in the form of a report of things that may not be working properly on your vehicle.

This test can be an incredibly helpful tool. It can tell you exactly why your check engine light came on. There are times that something will be wrong with your car and the light will not come on. Fortunately, this test can usually see those things, as well.

How Much Will a Car Diagnostic Test Cost Me?

If you Google “how much does a car diagnostic test cost “ in your area, you will likely get a wide array of responses. From everything I found, they can cost as little as $40 and go to $400. What’s the difference? Typically, just the place providing it and the area that the place is located. 

When I checked in my area, the lowest price I found was $80. I live in a fairly small town, though, without a lot of these tests available. This means that there is not much competition and, therefore, little competitive pricing. I have a friend who lives in a larger city that paid only $30 because that mechanic was trying to beat others.

If you check around enough, you just might find some place that offers a free test. This is their way of drumming up business, so it never hurts to ask.

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How Do Car Diagnostic Tests Work And What All Do They Include?

When something goes wrong with your car, a DTC- or diagnostic trouble code- is sent to the car’s computer. It is almost like sending an S.O.S. The difference in a DTC and an S.O.S is that the DTC means something specific while an S.O.S. is just a sign that someone’s in trouble. Unless the S.O.S. is very detailed, somehow, you do not really know what kind of trouble that person is in- just that they need help.

A DTC, on the other hand, tells your car that something in a specific part of the car is wrong. When your car is hooked to a diagnostic testing machine, that code translates that information to the machine. The mechanic can then read the results and know where the trouble is coming from but not all the details about why the trouble is there.

The test should be comprehensive, meaning it tests all vehicle systems including the car’s airflow, fuel injection, transmission and brakes, exhaust system, ignition performance, and sometimes more. Code in hand, the mechanic then takes a look at that specific part of the car. He or she will do a hands-on inspection and report to you what is going wrong and how it needs to be fixed. At this point, you will also get pricing on getting said trouble fixed.

From that point, it is all about getting repairs done. The total time it takes is typically just a few minutes on the machine. It should not really take more than an hour for the mechanic to take a look at any problem areas. You do not want them to rush and miss something, but they also should not be taking too long- they may just be trying to bill you extra.

Choosing Where To Get Your Car Tested

When it comes to choosing your locale for the test, how much the car diagnostic test cost should only be part of the equation.

You might find someone who offers a low cost or free diagnostic test, but that does not mean it is a quality one.

There is also a good chance that the mechanic will try to talk you into paying for work you do not really need. 

And, as I hinted to a moment ago, some will try to milk even the testing time to charge you extra. All of this adds up to needing to make sure that you choose a good shop for the test. How do you do that, though? Well, nothing is a guarantee, but follow these steps, and you will be closer to choosing a good one:

Compare Shops

This should go without saying, but you should never choose to spend money on something like this without first comparing a few places. Three is a good start. Our digital world has made it easy to look up information online, but with something this serious, it is best to actually speak to a human.

Before you call, though, you do want to look online. Check out mechanic shops in your area. Take a look at any customer reviews you find. This is often the best way to find out what you need to know about a company. Anyone can make a website look good. Reviews are a different story. They can help you determine if the car diagnostic test cost at that shop is worth paying. 

After you have chosen a couple or three with good reviews, give those shops a call. Ask how much a car diagnostic test cost and what all they actually do when they test. This not only gives you the opportunity to find out what each shop offers, but it also gives you an idea of what type of person you may be working with.

Ask for Recommendations

Family and friends are usually good people to ask. Who do they usually go to? How were they treated? Were they given a comprehensive test or was it just a small overview? Was the mechanic honest with them?

Another beauty of our digital age is social media. While it can cause many other problems, sites like Facebook are a great place to link up with people in your community and get information. Facebook has even made it easy: When you start to make a post, all you need to do is click “Ask for Recommendations” and say what you are looking for. People- even strangers- love to share what they know. Try asking them for recommendations on mechanics and even ask them how much a car diagnostic test cost in your area. You will likely walk away with multiple ideas, but you will often find that many people recommend the same one. If that’s the case, go with that mechanic.

How Do I Know I Am Not Being Scammed

So, you have chosen a shop, got your test done, and have been surprised by the amount of work you need to be done and how much it costs. Now, you want to know if you are being lied to. Yeah, I know that feeling. 

When I got my test done, I was given a list that totaled almost the amount I paid for the car. I stared at that list a few moments in shock. I did know that the car was not in the best shape, but good grief. Thousands of dollars in repairs? I was not expecting that. I went through about two thousand thoughts in my head in a two minute period- one of which was, “How do I know this guy is telling me the truth?”

Ask Questions

I started by simply asking him to go over the diagnostic test results with me. As he started in on his explanation, I was able to pick it apart enough to dig deeper. He would explain one thing, and I would jump in with my analytic brain and ask more questions. I was not smarter than he was on the topic, but by the time I go through asking questions, I found out that only a couple of those things were necessary at the moment, and some of them were really just extra things that were not pertinent to how the car got me from point A to point B.

Know What You Are Talking About

The point I am trying to make is that many people that do get scammed are those that just roll with it and agree without any further inquiry. If you educate yourself a little on cars, it is harder for someone to get over on you. Taking a friend with you is not always a bad thing, either, especially if they know a little about cars. 

Also, when you get the results, you can always say, “ Ok, I’ll have to talk to my husband/wife” or “I’ll have to think about it”. Shady salespeople (in this case, the mechanic) do not want you talking to someone else because they can point out things you do not see. Even non-shady salespeople do not want you to leave without setting up and appointment for the work or even getting some of it done. It’s kind of a rule with sales that if you let the customer walk out the door, you have probably lost them.

What does this mean for you? If you start trying to walk out, they will probably start saying something like, “Well, I can see if I can get you cheaper parts,” “Let’s see if we can get that price down for you,” and so on. If they do, let them do that- even if you are still going to walk out the door. Then, you will have a cheaper quote in case you do come back.

Should I Pay For a Car Diagnostic Test?

There is a good chance that, considering the car diagnostic test cost many people charge, you are wondering why you cannot just wait until something goes wrong, and then go get it fixed. Sure, you can do that, but it can be risky. It may just be me and my life, but I have noticed that once things start going bad, they go bad quickly and in more ways than one. In my experience, if I let one thing go, 20 things blow up. Unfortunately, that can happen to cars, too. 

Prevent Problems

Imagine a tire full of air. You notice one day that the tire is smaller than it was before, but you choose to ignore it for the moment. Tires lose a little air, right? The next day, you notice it is a little lower but just a little, so you hop in the car and head off to your destination. This goes on for a few more days until one day, you are sitting on the side of the road with a completely flat tire. 

Had you paid more attention on Day 1 or even Day 2, you would have noticed a small nail in the tire. You could have driven it down the road and had the tire patched up for $20 or so. Now, you are waiting on a tow truck because this happened before and you already used your spare tire. The tow truck charges you a pretty penny to get you to the mechanic’s shop where they let you know that your tire is completely destroyed.

Now, you have to pay out another $100 for a new tire. Oh, and by the way, your rim is damaged. What could have been fixed with a $20 patch job has now turned into a replacement job that is costing you hundreds.

Save on Bills

That is kind of why you should pay for a car diagnostic test. It can pinpoint problems when they first become problems. You can deal with those problems before they multiply. Doing so can help you save money on bills, which is something we all need, right? I do not care how much money a person has, it is always more fun to spend it on something you want than something that could have been prevented. 

Why Not Just Get a Free Car Diagnostic Test?

I admit that I am always looking for a cheaper option. Free, well, that’s my kind of cheap. Unfortunately, free is not always best. Sometimes, you have to invest in things to get the best results. When it comes to a car- you know, that thing you are relying on to get your family where you need to be and that you do not want breaking down on your teenager in the middle of the night- free can be an option.

There Are a Couple of Ways to Get a Free Diagnostic Test:

Some Mechanics

As I stated previously, you can find some mechanics that will give you a free diagnostic test. The idea is that they do the test and, hopefully, you will let them do the work. It’s just like any other company that is looking to drum up some business by giving something away.

In truth, there is no reason not to take advantage of such a deal. The good thing about a mechanic doing it is that you know they will be thorough in their inspection, if for no other reason than to get more work. Having them do the test is not the concern because- unless it is just a crappy mechanic- they will do an awesome job with the inspection. The concern does not come in until you have to figure out if you need the actual work or not.

However, there may be some that offer a free diagnostic test that you need to look out for. Be sure that you do not have to agree to anything. The last thing you want is to think you are getting a good deal on the test only to find out that you then contractually have to let that mechanic do the work. If they ask you to sign some sort of agreement like this, the test will not be worth it.

The best thing to do is to look at reviews. Even if you are getting a free test, you want to be sure you are dealing with an honest shop. Remember, free is not always best. If the mechanic’s reviews are good, go ahead and take them up on the free test. If the reviews are not good, back away and look for another one.

Some Auto Parts Stores

Fun fact: Some auto parts stores, like Auto Zone, have a diagnostic machine. The car diagnostic test cost at these places is zilch. That’s good, of course, but they do not do as thorough of an inspection as a mechanic would.

Saves You Money on the Work

This is not to say, though, that they are useless. Here’s the good thing about these tests: You get information. Auto parts stores are only in the business of selling parts, so you do not have to worry about them trying to sell you a ton of work. And, sometimes, they can save you money on the work, as well.

I had a check engine light come on before and took my car to a parts store. They hooked up the machine, showed me the code, and explained exactly what it meant. Turns out, I did not need a mechanic. We only needed to change out a sensor. The sweet guy behind the counter printed out a picture showing me exactly where that sensor was and how to change it.

I saved on the car diagnostic cost and the sensor was about $40. Since we did it ourselves, there were no labor hours. That whole thing would not have cost me less than $150 at a mechanic, though it probably would have been much more.

That was one of the best times, but it is not always this simple. Another time I used the auto parts store, it was more serious. Even so, the guy who did the test told me exactly what I needed done and told me a good mechanic to hire. I skipped having to pay a car diagnostic test cost again. Even better, when I called around about pricing, I knew exactly what to ask for. I was informed, so I did not have to worry about someone trying to talk me into work I did not need.

While I am not saying that you can always avoid a mechanic, starting with a diagnostic test at the auto parts store can save you a lot of money. They should be honest with you so you will know when you need a mechanic and when you do not.

How Often Should I Get a Car Diagnostic Test Done?

We all know that car repairs are a big bill, and I do not know anyone who is not looking to lower bills. The best ways to lower automobile bills are preventative maintenance and fixing small problems before they grow. Consider how much a car diagnostic test cost though, you do not want to do it more than you have to.

Three Basic Times to Remember

So, the question is how often you should add a car diagnostic test cost to your budget.

Any Time You Get a New Car

Brand new cars are probably okay, but if you buy a used one, you definitely want to get it checked out. 

Something Looks off with Your Vehicle

Any time a check engine light comes on, or any time something feels/sounds off with your vehicle. You are the one that drives your car. Therefore, you know when something does not seem right. Pay attention to your instincts.

Once a Year

At the very least, add the car diagnostic test cost to your yearly budget. 

Conclusion

It can be tempting to avoid paying a car diagnostic test cost when you are looking to save money on bill and shave down your budget. It’s important to remember, though, that paying a car diagnostic test cost can save you hundreds, even thousands, in repair bills. Bite the bullet and pay the cost.

If you find yourself with some high repair bills after the test- and you have made sure that they are necessary- take a breath. You can always look into personal installment loans that will help you pay for the repairs upfront and let you repay the loan over time.