No one likes spending money on their car, especially when it’s due to an unknown noise or strange shifting in the gears. Ever have a warning light come on yet the manual takes you through hundreds of pages of symbols and each one looks the same? It’s never fun and most of the time you end up spending unnecessary amounts of money on repairs that you didn’t need to begin with. However, there are some ways you can save money on your car maintenance and be sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
Find a Reliable Garage/Mechanic
While this may seem like a no-brainer, if you find a mechanic you know and trust stick with him! Many times jumping from garage to garage can lead to conflicting information and some serious strain on your wallet. If you are comfortable with someone and they know your car keep that business relationship intact.
Compare Estimates
If something is seriously wrong with your car don’t take the first estimate your given. It’s best to get three or four from different mechanics and compare the prices. If you find one mechanic you like more you then can show them the lower quote and sometimes get them to match it.
Buy Used
If you know someone who can install a part you need, you can save a lot of money by buying the part used. There are many discount auto stores that sell used and refurbished parts that you can get at the fraction of the cost. Do your homework and research. Discount Auto Parts is a great place to start.
Self-Diagnose
Many times if you don’t know what’s going on with your car the mechanic will charge you up to $100 just to run a diagnostic and compare codes to see what’s wrong. Thankfully, you can purchase these tools at an affordable cost and run the diagnostic yourself. If you can come to the mechanic with the information already in hand, it can save you a pretty penny. You can find out more about the diagnostic tools.
Educate Yourself
Most importantly, be educated when it comes to your car and the issues you are having. Read your maintenance guide and use online forums. Many times mechanics can misdiagnose your vehicle’s issues which can lead to some seriously high bills that don’t even fix the problem. Take ownership of the situation and be knowledgeable.
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