Certain repairs may be individually inexpensive but an really add up. Like replacing brake, coolant, and transaxle (transmission and differential) fluids can each costs a couple of hundred dollars. When I lookup the 60K service for a Prius, these are suggested but not necessarily included. So I suspect that the different service centers are performing different 60K services.

You should become more familiar with your car. Read through your owners manual. It will tell you EXACTLY what is needed and when. Then you can compare the estimates you are getting.

Some items are easy DIY too. Air and Cabin filter replacements are examples. These can be $20 each and take you 20 minutes total to install on your own.

Dealers aren't all terrible. You just need to know that they will try and upsell you to get service you might not need yet. They'll also use factory parts (this can be good or bad). Independent shops can be great. But sometimes they may not have the specific expertise/familiarity with your car and sometimes they use aftermarket parts. Insist on OEM parts.

I'm not too familiar with Priuses (I know there are a million on the road) but make sure any Independent shop is qualified to work on them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless someone you trust has had a good experience with a dealer service department, do not ever use a dealer service department.

Go to an independent shop that is well regarded.

Sometimes brake pads and rotors need to be replaced at 60,0000 miles. Sometimes they don't. It depends on many factors when brakes need basic service.

Thank you. Why not dealer service departments?

Because the dealers ALWAYS upsell you/find other things wrong. It's the car dealer version of 'do you want fries with that?' except we all think everything they suggest for our cars is necessary, and it's not.

You don’t need to do anything other than oil change and cabin and engine filter change at 60k, which shouldn’t be more than $150

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless someone you trust has had a good experience with a dealer service department, do not ever use a dealer service department.

Go to an independent shop that is well regarded.

Sometimes brake pads and rotors need to be replaced at 60,0000 miles. Sometimes they don't. It depends on many factors when brakes need basic service.

Thank you. Why not dealer service departments?

Because dealer service departments sustain dealerships financially.

The ONLY time you should be using a dealership service department is for warranty repairs that are 100% covered by warranty. Otherwise use an independent shop. Dealership service departments are going to soak you for every penny they possibly can.

Use someone you trust. Might be a dealer, might not. There are good dealers and there are bad independent shops. And vice versa.

Anonymous wrote:Unless someone you trust has had a good experience with a dealer service department, do not ever use a dealer service department.

Go to an independent shop that is well regarded.

Sometimes brake pads and rotors need to be replaced at 60,0000 miles. Sometimes they don't. It depends on many factors when brakes need basic service.

Thank you. Why not dealer service departments?

Unless someone you trust has had a good experience with a dealer service department, do not ever use a dealer service department.

Go to an independent shop that is well regarded.

Sometimes brake pads and rotors need to be replaced at 60,0000 miles. Sometimes they don't. It depends on many factors when brakes need basic service.

I've just called around to a few Toyota dealerships/service outfits for 60,000 mile service quotes for a Toyota Prius and the prices range from $200-something to over $1,000! The highest price had a slightly longer list of things that were included but I didn't get it all down (coolant? something with brakes?).

Is the service all that different?