Part of owning a car means eventually having to pay for its repairs. Unfortunately, that can easily make up a large part of your annual budget. Far too often, people find themselves having to put off repairs their cars badly need simply because they can’t afford them. However, there are some easy ways to save on these necessary repairs too.
First and foremost, always shop around. Use the Internet to look up the professionals in your area who can fix your car and do it for a fair price. Then read your owner’s manual to find out how often your car is supposed to receive maintenance. Take your vehicle in as often as recommended to garages you trust. Not only will this help keep expensive repairs to a minimum, it will also allow you to build a relationship with these garages, so you can expect better and more affordable service in the future.
Second, be sure you’re aware of what certain repair or maintenance jobs should cost, based on local averages. What someone in Cleveland pays to have a drive belt repaired is going to differ from what someone in Seattle pays. Still, by going online, you can get an idea for how much you should be spending and then avoid getting overcharged.
Third, never pay for something you can do on your own. Again, thanks to the World Wide Web, you’d be surprised how many repairs you can probably do all by yourself without spending a small fortune in the process. Oftentimes, you can simply buy the parts you need at an auto body store and then ask the professionals there to help you with installation. You’ll save a lot of money and they’ll earn customer satisfaction points and, most likely, repeat business.
Between insurance, gas, and the cost to purchase them in the first place, we spend enough on our vehicles as it is. Use the above advice to ensure you don’t spend even more throughout the year.
Source:
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/nine-ways-to-save-money-on-auto-repair.html
