Man Lets The Dealership Think He Wants To Trade In His Car. Then He Plays Their Service Department To Score A Deal

A man tricked a dealership into thinking he wanted to trade in his Porsche. He got out of paying a $250 fee to get a car diagnostic test.

In a TikTok with over 38,900 views, Eric (@erickbb6) shares how he got one over on the dealership. “When you want to take your car to the dealership to get a repair, they charge you like $250 for diagnostics,” Eric begins.

“If you want to get that for free, you’re not gonna go in there and ask him for a diagnosis. You’re gonna go in there, and you're gonna tell him you need to trade your vehicle in,” he adds.

Eric reveals he just did this with his Porsche.

“They’re gonna check that thing up and down. They’re gonna see how much exactly is gonna cost them to fix whatever is wrong with it,” he shares. “They did it for free 99. Can you believe that?”

Gallery: Porsche Mission S In New York City

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Source: Porsche

Free Car Diagnostic Check Trick: What Do Drivers Think? 

Viewers in the comment section admired Eric's deception but encouraged him to keep it on the low out of fear dealership places are going to catch on.

“I’m crying, that’s genius,” one TikTok commenter wrote.

“You should’ve posted this on Reddit. Now it’s not gonna work,” another added.

“Modern problems require modern solutions,” a third chimed in.

Other drivers shared their own strategies for getting free diagnostics checks done.

“I wait until I need an oil change. Then they tell me 100 things wrong with my car,” one revealed.

“You can go to Discount Auto Parts or NAPA, and they will give you a free diagnostic check any day of the week,” another shared.

Free Car Diagnostic Check Hack: Does It Work? 

Going to the dealership and telling them that you plan on trading your vehicle is a sneaky move to get free diagnostics done. But keep in mind, results will likely vary. Not everyone will have the same luck as Eric.

“I own a 2013 Toyota Corolla. They are not inspecting s— on that car lol,” one commenter shared.

“I doubt they wanna check my 2002 Toyota Camry that's missing a door handle and bumper hanging by nails literally,” another added.

How To Get A Free Car Diagnostic Check

The good news is there are different ways to get a free car diagnostic done. According to OBDeleven, many local auto shops and auto parts stores will offer a free diagnostic check. Local mechanics may run free diagnostic specials for first-time customers.

Auto part stores like AutoZone, Pep Boys, Jiffy Lube, and more also offer a free diagnostic check. Both mechanics and auto parts stores offer this for free as a way to land more sales. If the problem gets diagnosed there, they hope the problem can also be solved there.

One thing to note is that these mechanics will in some cases be looking for you to book another service before dishing out a free diagnostic scan. The last thing they want is people taking advantage of the free diagnostics scan and leaving. Typically, it’ll come complimentary as an added benefit for getting other services done with them.

Additionally, if your vehicle is still under warranty, the dealership may run a diagnostic test for free.

If none of these work out, some modern vehicles have a built-in diagnostics program, which can be accessed through the infotainment system. This feature will usually be hidden by design. So prior research likely needs to be done to figure out how to access the diagnostics menu.

Now, if you're a DIY car enthusiast, the digital scanner can always be purchased on your own. An OBD2 scanner code reader can be purchased for under $30 online.

Motor1 has reached out to Eric via Instagram and TikTok direct message.