3 Tips For Lower Auto Repair Costs
Do you own one or more vehicles? Are you finding it difficult to keep these vehicles due to high repair costs when one of them breaks? It can be hard enough sometimes to cover keeping vehicles filled with gasoline and insured so that they can be driven on the road. Add in the sometimes high cost of car repair and your wallet will be starting to look a little thin. Fortunately, there are things you can do that can save you money on your next repair bill. Some things to consider include:
Install used parts when possible: There are obviously some things that should never be reused, such as brakes or rubber hoses, but there are still plenty of used car parts that are fine to install. If you side-swipe your mailbox as you're pulling into your driveway, damaging one of your headlights or your side-view mirror in the process, search for a mechanic that will install used car parts. Not all mechanics are willing to install used parts, for a variety of reasons, so make sure to inquire whether or not this is possible before you bring your vehicle in for repairs. Even if they do install used parts, you may have to first locate the correct part on your own before they'll install it. However, the savings on your repair bill can more than makeup for the additional effort.
Do some of the work yourself: Unless you've trained to be a mechanic, you're probably not going to be tuning transmissions and realigning your own brakes. But there are still at least a few things you can do on your own. Changing your own oil, installing and adjusting spark plugs, and replacing worn-out fan belts are all things that are possible for most vehicle owners. Your local auto parts store should have a special manual in stock for your make and model of vehicle that will show you how to perform many different car repairs on your own.
Use different repair shops: For repairs that you cannot do on your own, sometimes it is less expensive to take your vehicle to multiple repair shops and sometimes your repair bill will be lower if you let one shop handle everything. For instance, if your brakes are worn out and your air conditioner has stopped working, the repair cost may be lower if you take your vehicle to a brake shop and a shop that specializes in air conditioner repair, rather than using one general mechanic. Always make sure to get estimates before agreeing to any repairs.