10 Things That Will Save You Thousands In Car Repairs
Car prices are rising every day, and with them, the cost of car repairs is growing. But our car is not getting younger, corrosion appears on the body, the engine wears out, and the suspension generally has to be repaired every year. This, for the most part, is influenced by the quality of our roads and the climate.
With the active use of the car in such conditions, many drivers forget about timely maintenance, which leads to more serious breakdowns, and this, in turn, increases the cost of repairs at times. How can we save money on car repairs, and is it even possible?
Before you start saving
Car maintenance is not cheap. And as practice shows, frightening amounts are largely due to high prices for spare parts. We figured out how to save on spare parts so that this does not affect the quality of the repair.
The next maintenance and unscheduled repairs always hit the wallet of the average car owner because you need to:
- buy some new spare parts;
- have an emergency visit to the auto mechanic.
And therefore, it is not at all surprising that drivers, wanting to save as much as possible, are looking for "gray" car services, which, unlike the "officials", do not tear three skins from customers. But in the future, you will see if it is so profitable to use such services.
Not all savings will be positive for your car. In most cases, we even have to spend a lot on car care. But it is necessary to do this because even the smallest breakdown can lead to big problems and costs. You must understand that the very first step in saving is choosing your car.
Ways to save money on car repairs
As a rule, when buying a car, we rely on its long operation. Therefore, we will describe only those ways that will help you save money in the long run.
1. Use your car wisely
If you're squeezing all the juice out of your car, don't be surprised that you have to repair it often. Try to minimize the load on the engine and frame. For example, if you drive a passenger car, you should not clog all the free space in the trunk and cabin with building materials and engage in cargo transportation. For such purposes, it is better to order a truck, it will turn out to be more profitable than repairing the chassis of your passenger car.
Also, avoid situations where you can skid or get stuck in mud or snow if you understand that such a risk exists. In this case, when trying to get out on your own, you risk burning the clutch and damaging the gearbox, not counting the cost of evacuation.
2. Quality auto parts
Pay special attention to the choice of spare parts. Before buying, read the reviews of other drivers, and if you decide on a purchase, find the lowest prices for this spare part.
Mechanics often argue about whether it is possible to use analogs of original spare parts. There are many pros and cons to buying cheap analogs. But it is obvious that we change some parts in the car so often that it simply does not make sense to buy the original, for example, air and cabin filters. Of course, it is more reliable to use original spare parts for repairs, but in some cases there are exceptions.
3. Choose a reliable car service
It is good if you have a good friend who is engaged in car maintenance, but if there is no such person, it becomes difficult to choose auto repair shop. And our directory can really help you with the problem. Among car repair shops there are those who treat their work without due professionalism, make poor-quality repairs, and even deceive gullible drivers by offering unnecessary services. Therefore, when choosing a service station, use the reviews and recommendations of your friends, this approach is much more reliable than blindly trusting advertising.
4. Service your car in a timely manner
As mentioned earlier, even the smallest breakdown can lead to serious consequences. A worn part will fail sooner or later. Therefore, pay due attention to the diagnosis of the car and the repair of breakdowns at the earliest stages. Change consumables such as fluids and various gaskets on time.
5. Self-repair of a car
Not everyone has the ability, tools, and free time to repair a car with their own hands, especially girls. But such small things as light bulbs, and wiper blades, can be replaced by almost every driver.
Start small, study the structure of the car, and try to change the simplest parts yourself, you may even like it, however, if you do not have much experience, be careful. Unprofessional actions can also be harmful, which will lead to high costs.
6. Choose a good road
On some roads in small towns, it is difficult to drive even on a tractor, not to mention cars. That's why we spend money on depreciation so often. Take care of your suspension and choose the route with the best quality road surface. If the holes cannot be avoided, go around them or at least slow down.
7. Calm driving style
A relaxed driving style will not only reduce the load on your engine but will also help you save on fuel consumption. Avoid both sudden jerks at the start and sudden braking. Do not exceed the speed limit, it is life-threatening!
8. Wash your car regularly
Corrosion can appear on your car under a layer of dirt, especially in winter, when our roads are abundantly sprinkled with reagents. This does not mean that you have to spend a lot of money on a car wash, it is enough to spend a couple of dollars once a week at a self-service car wash in order to wash off a layer of dirt from thresholds and doors with water.
9. Choice of quality fuel
Everyone knows that the deterioration of the engine depends on the quality of the fuel. Choose only proven gas stations and refuel at them constantly, especially if your car is picky about fuel.
10. Avoid unnecessary travel
We love our cars so much that we drive them even if the distance is only 200 meters. So why start the car again? Especially in winter, when you spend more time warming up your vehicle than walking to your destination.
Conclusion
We've talked about the key ways to save money on repairs, but there are many more ways to save money on car maintenance that don't involve repairs. For example, compliance with traffic rules, fuel economy, installation of gas equipment, and others. These are all difficult tasks for the driver, but they must be done if you want to minimize the costs associated with your favorite vehicle.