Picking Up the Car and Payment
Returning to the service center to collect the car, review the completed work, pay the bill, and discuss future maintenance.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
pick up
To collect or retrieve something, like your car after service. It's commonly used when getting items back from a shop or repair place.
invoice
A detailed bill showing the costs of services or parts. In car maintenance, it's the document you review before paying.
brake pads
Parts in a car that create friction to stop the wheels. They wear out over time and need replacement for safety.
routine service
Regular maintenance checks for a vehicle, like oil changes or inspections, done at specific mileage intervals.
topped off
Filled to the maximum level, often used for car fluids like oil or coolant during maintenance.
tire pressure
The amount of air inside car tires, which should be checked regularly to ensure safe driving and even tire wear.
labor
The cost of the work done by mechanics, separate from the price of parts in a repair bill.
heads-up
An informal warning or reminder about something upcoming, like future car maintenance needs.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hi, I'm here to pick up my car. It's a silver Honda Civic, license plate ABC 123.
This polite greeting identifies your vehicle clearly using details like color, model, and license plate. It's useful when arriving at a service center; the structure uses simple present tense for description.
Great, thanks! Can you walk me through the invoice?
This expresses appreciation and requests a step-by-step explanation of the bill. 'Walk me through' is an idiom meaning to explain in detail; it's practical for confirming charges in any service situation.
Here's a detailed breakdown. You'll see the cost for the routine service, then the brake pad replacement parts and labor.
This offers a clear itemized list of costs. 'Breakdown' means a detailed analysis; it's useful for service providers to explain bills transparently, using 'you'll see' for guiding the listener.
Okay, that looks clear. And the total is $450, correct?
This confirms understanding and verifies the final amount. 'Correct?' seeks agreement; it's a key pattern for double-checking payments to avoid errors, common in transactions.
You can pay at the counter when you're ready. Also, just a reminder, your next major service will be at 60,000 miles.
This gives payment instructions and a future reminder. 'Just a reminder' softens advice; the future tense 'will be' plans ahead, helpful for customer service in maintenance scenarios.
Thanks for the heads-up. I'll make a note of that.
This thanks for a reminder and promises to remember it. 'Heads-up' is informal for advance notice; 'make a note' means to write it down—useful for responding to advice politely.
Your car is parked right outside, the silver one. Just present your receipt to the attendant when you leave.
This provides location info and exit instructions. 'Present' means to show; imperative 'just present' gives clear directions, practical for final steps in picking up a car.