You’re on your way to work and your car breaks down. You don’t have time for this; you have things to do and places to be, and the last thing you need to deal with is a costly repair. That’s why it’s important to know how you can save money. Below are some ways to help you make paying for car repairs cheaper.
Making Car Repair Cheap
- Maintain Your Car
Performing regular maintenance on your vehicle is by far the best way to make car repairs more affordable before they ever happen. Don’t put off that oil change or tire rotation; don’t ignore that check engine light. Having your vehicle regularly serviced extends the life of the vehicle and reduces the amount of wear that occurs on it over time. Neglecting to have the vehicle serviced can lead to a costly breakdown.
- Find a Good Mechanic and Stick Like Glue
Finding a good mechanic can be a crap-shoot. There are plenty of shady operations out there gouging unsuspecting motorists and creating more business for themselves by sabotaging your vehicle. The good news is that you can reduce your chances in running into these jokers. To find a trustworthy mechanic, research and shop around for estimates. You can do this by checking Yelp listings and reviews posted on car forums like AutomotiveForums.com. Make sure the shop is ASE certified, and also consider whether or not the shop is AAA approved.
- Do Your Own Diagnostics and Car Repair
If you’ve had repair work done before, then you know that the majority of cost going into your vehicle is labor. Yes, parts can be expensive, but the majority of repair costs come from the amount of time it takes to fix your vehicle. You can reduce this cost in two ways:
- Diagnostics:
Performing your own diagnostics before taking the car into the shop allows you to know exactly what is wrong and saves time because it eliminates the need for the mechanic to do the guess work. All you need to do is purchase a diagnostics tool known as an OBD-II code reader or scanner. These readers/scanners translate vehicle diagnostic codes into a language you understand so that you can tell the mechanic the exact problem your car is having.
- DIY Car Repair:
Contrary to what you might think, there is some repairs that you can do yourself – no matter you skill level. From changing your oil, to replacing your own brakes or even replacing a radiator, it is possible to perform the repair on your own. Doing the repair work yourself eliminates the major cost of labor, and you can purchase the parts you need at either an automotive store or at junk yards. All it takes is education and elbow grease.
No matter your situation, car repair can be a costly affair, but there are multiple ways you can reduce your repair bill.
