Taking your car to the dealership can feel like entering a different financial universe. The same oil change, brake job, or diagnostic check that costs a few hundred dollars at an independent shop can suddenly become a much larger bill once the dealership gets involved.
And while some of that difference comes down to higher overhead, factory-trained technicians, specialized equipment, franchise costs, and larger facilities, there’s another important reason: the service department is a major source of dealership revenue.
