Tight budgets are causing car owners to put off minor repairs, and the result is more expensive repairs in the future. When you wait to have repairs done, a $100 job turns into a $400 or $500 job.As a result some small shops are in danger of going out of business for lack of customers.The price of gas is so high; people are using their cars less. If its not being used it won’t break.”The price of crude oil has doubled since 2005 from $50 per barrel to $104 a barrel.With labor rates between $65 and $110 an hour, it drives customers away.Tools cost $10,000 to $15,000 for the average Tech so these labor rates are not out of line. When the cars are finally brought in, it is far more expensive then the original repair would have been.One trend is that parents of young children are having repairs done quickly.This is a sign that the dollars are there just where do you want to spend them.Another trend is that, as shops slow up they tend to get picky on what is needed for repair and what can wait. Don’t have an answer for this but I still think the honest shops that do good work will come OK in the final result.Also this has be a boon to the DIY industry but for some reason the aftermarket sales are falling I think DIY are still doing just what has to be done.