It’s as simple as don’t hit my car. You damage it, then I’m entitled to compensation from your insurer.

Never settle out of pocket. Always get their information and let insurance battle it out for you. Some older guy rammed into my car while I was pumping gas and insisted he pay $300 cash on the spot for the hole he punched in my bumper. I went through his insurance and they ended up shelling out $900 for the damage. I fixed the hole myself and pocketed the $900.

Locker Room. The person who is not really that attracted to you anyway will appreciate your futile efforts, as previously mentioned.

Apple Bees but even that is pushing it.

What local or smaller shop has been bought up in the last month?

I feel like this question gets asked once a month

• REPLACE REAR SHOCK ASSEMBLY - $600 - you can fail for this. When they start to fail, they tend to leak and make noise when going over bumps.

• REPLACE BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY - $1200- you can fail for this if the bushing in the arm are worn and if the ball joint is starting to fail. This is one of those repairs not to ignore if there are signs of the ball joint failing. They sometimes creak when they’re on their way out but they can also just suddenly fail. I need to replace mine as the boot has split on one and is oozing grease out. It can be a pain to do depending on the vehicle. Its easer to replace the control arm with the ball joint pre-pressed into the control arm usually.

• 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT - $100 not needed to pass inspection but does help keep your tires from wearing prematurely as well as your suspension components. may be related to other items they’ve recommended. Talk to the mechanic. It’ll need the alignment after suspension work, especially on AWD vehicles.

• OIL CHANGE - $60 (is this even part of the "safety" inspection) not needed to pass inspection but definitely keep up with your oil changes.

• BRAKE FLUID FLUSH - $100 not necessary to pass inspection but brake fluid is hygroscopic and does need to be replaced over time.

• REPLACE RIGHT FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY - $700 - you can fail for this. Typically the rubber boots gets get torn and fling grease everywhere. Once this happens and if you can catch it in time, you can replace just the boot and repack it with grease, but given that the part is so cheap whole sale on this, you’re better off just replacing it. They also start to click when they start to fail.

• REPLACE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY - $1400 - you can fail for this. Typically when they start to fail, they start leaking fluid and making noise. $1400 seems kinda high if they’re going to be in there messing with the control arms and cv axle. Ask if they’re reusing the coils or dropping in a complete quick strut assembly. The quick strut assemblies are a little more expensive but save on labor costs.

Talk to the mechanic and see what they say. You can just ask what will it take to get it to pass inspection and elect to do the necessary repairs. That CV axle pricing seems whack though especially if they plan on fooling with the control arms. If the place youre going to now for automotive work starts with a ‘C’, then definitely get a second opinion elsewhere.