A woman on TikTok says she dressed up as a man—fake beard and all—before heading to the mechanic in hopes of avoiding being taken advantage of.
Taylor (@bright.eyesss) filmed herself stepping out of her car wearing a backward baseball cap and a fake beard. The video doesn’t show her leaving the shop or reveal what work she needed done, so it’s unclear whether her disguise was effective or if the video was just for laughs.
Still, Taylor suggests that the costume felt necessary.
“When you’re a girl taking your car to the mechanic and you don’t want them to take advantage of you,” she writes in the overlay.
“Is this a universal experience or just me?” she adds in the caption. As of Sunday, her TikTok had amassed more than 2.4 million views.
There’s no definitive proof that women are routinely scammed at auto shops, but anecdotal evidence and some research suggests it’s not just in their heads.
In a 2022 post on the AskMechanics subreddit, one user claimed they avoided two different shops because coworkers openly bragged about ripping off women. Others chimed in, saying it’s not just a gender issue—it’s opportunism.
“If some ‘nerdy’ guy turns up, I’m sure it would be the same,” one commenter wrote.
Bloggers and auto experts have compiled lists of lies they claim are commonly told to women. These include saying that a part needs replacing when it doesn’t, inflating prices, or claiming the car is due for services when it actually isn’t.
A deep dive from The Atlantic found that women, especially those who seemed less informed, were quoted higher prices than men for the same repairs. But one piece of research cited in the article attributes this not to outright sexism but to something called statistical discrimination.
“Shops believe, rightly or wrongly, that women know less about cars,” the researchers wrote. “In the absence of information to the contrary, they will be offered a higher quote.”
In other words, it’s not personal—it’s predatory. If you seem uninformed, you’re more likely to get fleeced.
That said, the researchers found another interesting upside: Women who asked for discounts were more likely to receive them than men. So, having the confidence to ask can literally pay off.
How to avoid getting ripped off
If, like Taylor, you fear being lied to by a mechanic, here’s what you can do to protect yourself:
- Ask to see the problem. If they can’t show you, they may be bluffing.
- Be specific. Describe the issue in detail. This signals that you’re not an easy mark.
- Do your homework. Research common issues for your car model and look up average repair costs.
- Get a second opinion. One quote shouldn’t be the only one you trust.
- Go with certified shops. National Institute for Auto Service Excellence-certified mechanics or those recommended by your insurance provider are usually more trustworthy.
Taylor may have gone all out with her disguise, but you don’t need a fake beard—just a little research and confidence.
Commenters said they wouldn’t go quite that far to avoid getting scammed, but gave Taylor props for fully committing to the bit.
“Looking like someone’s alcoholic uncle,” one woman quipped.
“They might offer you a job, sister,” a second echoed.
“Who’s taking advantage of who?” said a third commenter who was clearly amused.
Others said that Taylor actually pulled off the guy look—short shorts and all.
“I thought you were the mechanic,” one viewer said.
“I thought a homeless guy was trying to enter your car,” another added.
“Go in there and take something expensive before you leave,” a third suggested. “No one will notice.”
Motor1 has reached out to Taylor via TikTok comment. We will be sure to update this article if she responds.