Woman Quoted $9,700 for Repairs, Suspects Gender-Based Overcharging

Recently, a female TikTok user named Rina shared her experience of being quoted $9,700 for car repairs after her engine warning light came on—costs that included replacing the transmission and the mass airflow sensor. She questioned whether she was overcharged because she is a woman, especially as she had just paid rent and needed to pick up her daughter, making the unexpected expense particularly stressful. According to AutoZone data, while such repair costs are high, they still fall within a reasonable range. However, the American Automobile Association (AAA) advises seeking a second opinion when faced with unexpectedly expensive repair estimates. Many women in the comments section echoed similar experiences—one user said she was quoted $1,600 to fix a scratch, while another shop charged only $400 for the same job. A 2012 Northwestern University study also found that women are, on average, quoted $13 more than men for auto repairs—but when they demonstrate prior knowledge of market rates, they often receive fairer pricing.