Question 1

What does it actually mean if a mechanic is on your Verified Honest Mechanics list?

Accepted Answer

It means the mechanic or business completed our review process, responded to requests for information when necessary, and was presented to the community for input before certification. That is all it means. It is a community-based designation, not a legal finding that a business is honest, perfect, or incapable of causing a customer harm.

Question 2

Is your certification a guarantee?

Accepted Answer

No. Inclusion on our list is not a warranty or guarantee of workmanship, pricing, safety, diagnosis, repairs, or future conduct. Consumers still need to use their own judgment when choosing a mechanic and entering into any repair agreement.

Question 3

Is a Verified Honest Mechanic government-approved or professionally licensed by you?

Accepted Answer

No. The Honest Mechanic Project is not a government agency, licensing board, court, law-enforcement agency, or regulatory authority. Our certification does not replace any license, permit, insurance requirement, inspection, or other credential required by law.

Question 4

Does being listed prove that a mechanic has never done anything wrong?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not. We don't expect honest mechanics to be perfect mechanics. Mistakes, disagreements, and complaints can happen. What matters to our process is how a business communicates, documents what happened, responds to legitimate concerns, and works to make things right when it is responsible.

Question 5

What if I have a serious issue with someone on the list?

Accepted Answer

Use the appropriate official channels first. Depending on the situation, that may include law enforcement, consumer-protection authorities, regulators, insurers, courts, or an attorney. You may also submit the documentation to us and request a review of that business's continued eligibility.

Question 6

Does an Honest Mechanic have to be a perfect mechanic?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not expect an honest mechanic to be a perfect mechanic. Cars are complicated, people make mistakes, diagnoses can change, and even good repairs can sometimes have unexpected outcomes. Honesty, in our opinion, is how those issues are handled when they come up.

Question 7

What do you expect when a mechanic makes a mistake?

Accepted Answer

We expect them to communicate honestly, take reasonable responsibility, and make a genuine effort to make the situation right. A mechanic who says, “How can we make this right for you?” may demonstrate far more integrity than one who has never had a complaint simply because they have never been challenged.

Question 8

Does a customer complaint automatically disqualify or remove a mechanic from the project?

Accepted Answer

No. Complaints are considered in context. We are interested in what happened, what documentation exists, how the business responded, and whether reasonable efforts were made to resolve the problem.

Question 9

Will you help shops handle customer complaints better?

Accepted Answer

Although we are unable to provide any kind of mediation support at this time, we hope to expand the project to offer “How Can We Make This Right for You?” training for participating mechanics and shops. The goal will be to help businesses respond to legitimate customer concerns with better communication, documentation, accountability, and practical resolution strategies.

Question 10

Is the goal to catch mechanics doing something wrong?

Accepted Answer

No. The goal is to identify and support businesses that demonstrate honesty, even when circumstances are difficult, and to encourage practices that make trustworthy businesses easier for consumers to recognize.

The Honest Mechanic Project

Making it harder for bad guys to win starts with making it easier to find the good ones.

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