Prompt details

Tested on

Claude Opus 5.5

Length

517 words · 3 fill-ins

Example input

[Repair quote]: Main Street Auto Care. Estimate, not yet approved. Customer concern: clunking noise from the front when turning, vibration at highway speed. 1. Replace front CV axle assemblies, left and right. Parts: 2 x $289.00 = $578.00. Labor: 2.6 hrs x $165/hr = $429.00 2. Replace front sway bar end links, left and right. Parts: 2 x $48.00 = $96.00. Labor: 0.8 hrs = $132.00 3. Four-wheel alignment: $149.00 4. CVT transmission fluid flush (machine exchange, includes conditioner): $289.00 5. Fuel system service (fuel injector cleaning, throttle body and induction cleaning): $219.00 6. Brake fluid exchange: $139.00 7. Engine air filter and cabin air filter: $118.00 8. Coolant flush: $179.00 9. Front brake pads and rotors. Parts: $412.00. Labor: 1.5 hrs = $247.50 10. Shop supplies (8% of labor): $64.68 11. Diagnostic fee: $165.00 Subtotal: $3,217.18. Tax (8.25% on parts): $99.33. Total: $3,316.51

[Car details]: 2016 Honda CR-V EX, all-wheel drive, CVT automatic, 98,400 miles. I bought it used at 52,000 miles. I don't know if the CVT fluid was ever changed before that, and I haven't changed it. Oil changed every 5,000 miles. Brake fluid was replaced at the Honda dealer at 84,000 miles, about 2 years ago (I have the receipt). Engine and cabin air filters replaced at 90,000 miles. No warranty. The maintenance reminder on the dash currently shows "A13" and 15% oil life.

[Symptoms and what the shop said]: I brought it in for a clunk from the front end when turning into driveways and over speed bumps, and a light vibration at 65 to 70 mph that started about a month ago. The service advisor said the left front CV boot is torn and throwing grease and the right one "is starting to crack", so they recommend both axles. He said the end links are "loose" and the front brake pads are at 3 mm. Everything else on the estimate is "recommended at this mileage". He said I should approve today because the axle "could fail any time". I'm in Texas. I haven't approved anything; the car is still at the shop.

Example output

1. Line by line

Line	What it is	Linked to your symptom?	Starting view	Question to ask
1. CV axles, L+R ($1,007)	The shafts that drive the front wheels. Each end has a flexible joint sealed by a rubber boot. A torn boot lets grease out and dirt in, and the joint then wears.	Partly. The left boot is torn. Worn CV joints usually click on tight turns. A worn inner joint can cause vibration at speed. A clunk over bumps fits end links better.	Left: Fix now (confirm). Right: Ask first, since a "starting to crack" boot is aging, not failure.	"Does either joint click, or have play when you move it, or is it only the boot? Is the right boot leaking grease? Could the right side be re-booted or watched instead? Are these new, remanufactured, or aftermarket axles?"
2. Sway bar end links, L+R ($228)	Short rods linking the anti-roll bar to the suspension. When loose, they often clunk over bumps and driveway angles.	Yes. This is the most likely match for the clunk.	Fix now if they confirm play	"Are both links loose, or only one? Since the axles come out on the same corners, does the 0.8 hr overlap with axle labor?"
3. Four-wheel alignment ($149)	Sets wheel angles so the car tracks straight and tires wear evenly.	Not clearly. Alignment rarely fixes vibration. Replacing axles and end links doesn't normally change alignment.	Ask first	"Why is it needed? Do you see uneven tire wear, or are the angles out? Can you print the before readings?"
4. CVT fluid "flush" with conditioner ($289)	Replaces the transmission fluid.	No, this is maintenance. Note that the "3" in your A13 reminder is the one item on this quote your car is actually asking for.	Soon. Ask first about the method.	"Will you use Honda HCF-2 fluid? Is it a drain-and-fill per Honda, with no additive or conditioner?"
5. Fuel system service ($219)	Cleaner run through the injectors and intake.	No	Optional (decline unless there's a drivability symptom)	"Is there a running problem or code that calls for this, or is it mileage-based?"

Claude Opus 5.5

Car Repair Quote Check – Car repair estimate prompt for ChatGPT and Claude

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Claude Opus 5.5

This prompt explains a car repair quote before you approve it. Paste the quote, your car's details and the symptoms; you get each line explained and sorted, the questions to ask, a script and a second-opinion checklist.

What you get

Every line of the quote in plain English, linked to your symptom or marked extra
A starting view of fix now, soon and optional, with safety items first
Parts and labor questions, and a script for calling the shop
A second-opinion checklist so the quotes compare

How to use it

1
Get the quote in writing
Ask the shop for an itemized estimate with parts, labor hours and rate before you approve anything.
2
Read the table, then call
Use the script to ask about the lines marked Ask first and Optional, and approve the safety work you agree with.
3
Compare a second quote
Take the checklist to another shop for the same jobs, and check the maintenance items against your owner's manual.

Better results

Ask the shop to show you the worn or damaged part, such as a torn boot, before you approve the repair.
Paste the maintenance page of your owner's manual for your mileage into the chat and ask which quote lines it supports.
Ask the second shop to quote the same line items, so you compare like with like.

Questions

Can ChatGPT check a car repair estimate?

Yes. ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini can explain each line of a repair estimate, link it to your symptom and suggest questions to ask. It cannot inspect the car, so treat its view as a starting point and confirm it with the shop or a second mechanic.

How do I know if a mechanic is overcharging?

Compare the quote with your owner's manual and a second quote for the same work. Warning signs include services sold by mileage that the manual does not call for, flushes and cleanings tied to no symptom, and labor charged twice for overlapping jobs.

Are car repair estimates free?

It depends on the shop. Many shops charge a diagnostic fee to find the cause of a problem, and some credit it if you approve the work. Ask before they start, and get the estimate in writing with parts, labor hours and the rate.

Updated 8 Nov 2026