[secabeen]

My understanding is that this is because the car repair market is heavily regulated, estimates are required for all repairs, and payment is based on a standard number of hours for each job, not actual time taken. The cost of estimates is already wrapped into the cost of the completed repairs, and estimates are required before work is done, so few places charge for declined estimates.

https://www.bar.ca.gov/pdf/writeitright.pdf

[dboreham]

I think it's because car repair shops can't get away with being a total dick.

[dsfyu404ed]

Exactly.

"Terell's cousin is handy and while he's not the greatest he can probably get 'r done for more time and frustration but a lot less overall expense" is the nuclear option that caps how big a bag of dicks a shop can be.

Barrier to entry is low and they don't have an AMA cartel lobbying the government to protect them which helps a lot too.