What is a "written estimate"?

What is a "written estimate"?

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With regards to general car maintenance, a written estimate is something you receive when you bring the vehicle in for service before the work is actually done. The written estimate is a guideline or idea of what the mechanic believes needs to be done to your vehicle to bring it back up to spec, along with the approximate cost for this work. In order to change the amount of a written estimate, the mechanic would quite often call you and get approval for doing additional work which is going to raise the overall cost of the work to be done.