We all know how expensive car repairs can be. It’s not impossible for you to get saddled with a bill of $1000 or more. And it’s not unlikely that we end up paying for that bill using a credit card or payday loan, putting us deeper into debt. But what if there were ways to prevent this from happening in the future? What if you knew how to save money on car repairs? Think of all the debt you could avoid accumulating. If you’re up for learning how to save money on car maintenance as well, below are some tips you might be interested in.

Tips on Saving Money on Car Maintenance

Read the Owner’s Manual

Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many car owners don’t do this. But if you want to learn about how to properly maintain your car, then you need to know when to schedule maintenance and what to do. 

The owner’s manual will show you the manufacturer’s recommendations ranging from proper fuel and air pressure to when you should get the oil changed. With just this little bit of knowledge, you can save yourself some dollars by not performing unnecessary services.

Pay Attention to Warning Lights

If you’ve got a modern car, chances are it has an electronic warning system installed. This means that if there’s something wrong with the car such as a malfunction in the engine block, an overheating radiator, or a low level of brake fluid, you’ll see a warning light go on. When it does, don’t ignore it or put it off. Having it fixed immediately won’t cause as much as letting the problem get worse. Early intervention is key.

Change the Air Filter Yourself

This is an important-but-easy-to-do task that you can perform on your own which means you may be able to save yourself around $50 or more just on labor. 

In addition, you get to save time going to the mechanic because the task takes just around five minutes. You can learn how to swap the air filter by reading the owner’s manual. And you can purchase an air filter for $10 to $20 at most auto parts stores.

Have Your Wheels Rotated for Free

We all know that wheels cost quite a bit of money. So does rotating them. Instead of paying for both of these services, you can get a twofer for the price of one. A lot of sellers offer to rotate custom wheels for free if you bought them there. A lot of repair shops that offer free brake inspections may be able to rotate your tires and wheels while they’re inspecting them. 

After all, they need to take off all of your tires in order to check your brake parts. If you do plan to take care of this chore yourself, remember that the front wheels need to be the tires with the most remaining tread.

Shop Around for a Better Price

Technically, you don’t have to know everything about cars in order to keep your car in tip-top shape. A little knowledge can go a long way. But if you’re unsure about your capabilities, you can choose to bring your vehicle to a local mechanic or car collision repair center near you for regular checkups. This will cost you but not as much as car repairs will. 

Now, most of us know that it’s best to do your research before making a big purchase. We all want to get the best price possible. Unfortunately, a lot of us don’t seem to remember to follow the same practice when having our car maintained or repaired. 

If you want to be able to save money on car maintenance, you need to make sure that you get the best price possible. The first step is to research just how much the service will cost including parts and labor. When you know the average price-point, you need to get in touch with various shops near you to see which one offers the best price. You also shouldn’t balk at negotiating a little, especially since you already know what the fair market price is for the service you wish to buy.

Buy Your Own Parts 

Even if you’re getting the work done in a shop, that doesn’t mean that you need to rely on them for everything. That includes buying the necessary parts. It’s not unusual for a shop to take care of purchasing the parts your car needs. It’s also not unusual for them to pad the cost of the parts. 

If you want to save money, you might want to consider buying the parts on your own. You can easily find affordable ones sold online like Amazon or through auto part suppliers. 

Take note that not all auto shops will allow you to bring your own parts. Some might let you but refuse to provide warranty on the parts. You can choose to go to a different shop if they refuse. Or, let them refuse warranty because the manufacturer of the part will still provide you with one.

Bottomline

Following any of these tips should help you shave off a considerable amount of dollars from your car repair bill. Making sure your car gets regular maintenance will even help your car run in good condition for a long while. Car care is not always easy or fun. But if you do it right, you definitely won’t find yourself unhappily digging deep into your pocket for money that you could have used somewhere else.