Car repair costs are part and parcel of car ownership costs. If you are not careful, your car ownership costs can go through the roof due to high repair costs. Below are a few tips you can use to lower your car repair costs.
Use the Dealer Warranty
If your car is still under warranty, then the cheapest way to get it fixed is to take it to the dealer. Sure, dealer warranties don't cover everything, but they do cover many things. Even if the dealer only covers a fraction of your repair issues, you shall have saved considerable money.
Opt for an independent repair shop
Taking your car to a dealership makes sense if your car is still under warranty since the warranty will cover the relevant repairs. However, you need to find a new mechanic if your car is no longer under warranty. The same applies or repairs that your warranty doesn't cover. Dealership repair shops tend to charge higher prices than independent repair shops. Do your own comparison and get a repair shop with reasonable rates.
Ensure Timely Maintenance
Most cars won't experience expensive breakdowns if they are properly serviced. The proper service is the one prescribed by the manufacturer. For example, stale engine oil leads to engine damage, but changing the oil in time prevents such damages. Therefore, service your car religiously, and most of the repair issues it might experience will be inexpensive.
Know when to DIY
If you know a thing or two about cars, then you can eliminate some repair costs by doing some of the work yourself. Just ensure that you only engage in DIY with things you know and with uncomplicated issues. For example, it wouldn't do to try DIY transmission repair, but you can change windshield wipers, change filters, and change the fluids, among other things. Your level of knowledge of auto mechanics determines how deep you can delve into DIY. Don't try anything you aren't sure of because then you might cost even more expensive damages.
Know Your Car
Even if you don't wish to delve into DIY repairs, you ought to have a little knowledge of your car. You should at least differentiate when the car is running as usual and when something seems to be amiss. Strange smells, sounds, vibrations should alert you that something is wrong somewhere. A little car knowledge will also go a long way in helping you deal with auto mechanics and speed up the diagnosis process, which may lower repair costs.
To learn more about automotive repair services, contact a mechanic in your area.
