When that dashboard warning light comes on, is your budget the first thing that comes to mind? I always like to have some money set aside for emergency car repairs, but that doesn’t change the fact that a trip to the mechanic can be painfully expensive. Fortunately, there are a few ways y’all can make repairs a little more affordable. From choosing the right mechanic to getting your own hands dirty, here are three effective ways to save money on car repairs.
Keep Up With Preventative Maintenance
It’s simple logic: if you take care of something regularly, it’s less likely to break down over time. Preventative maintenance like routine oil changes, tire rotations, and other checkups help keep your car in good shape so that you can avoid massive issues and repairs. Just as y’all would get your teeth cleaned to prevent cavities, you should rotate your tires to prevent uneven wear and alignment issues. Next time you start wondering if you really need to go in for that oil change, just think about the bigger problems that can crop up over time if you don’t take care of your vehicle now.
Learn Some DIY Maintenance
Doing it yourself is one of the most effective ways of saving money on car repairs. Of course, y’all don’t want to make a mistake and end up having to pay more for someone else to fix it. But there are still plenty of simple repairs you can learn to do on your own.
One great example is changing the air filter. Once you can recognize the signs of an old air filter, all you need to do to replace yours is pop the hood and open the air filter housing (a black plastic box on top of or beside the engine). Switch that old filter for a new one, close the housing, and the job is done. If you’re stuck, check your owner’s manual to find the exact location of your air filter housing as well as how to open it.
Go to Mechanics You Trust
I know the feeling of wondering if you’re getting ripped off. Finding a good mechanic can be tricky, especially if you don’t know a lot about cars.
Choose a repair shop you can trust by getting recommendations from friends and looking up reviews online. It’s also a good idea to compare the price of parts and services to other mechanics online. Always make sure y’all are getting a good deal. The last thing you want is to pay too much for repairs you don’t actually need.
