By Teri Cettina
Although you'd
rather use your money on more interesting things, you're likely to spend
a huge chunk of change maintaining and repairing your car. According to
the American Automobile Association (AAA), it now costs nearly $9,000 a
year to drive an average-size sedan. And if you own a four-wheel-drive SUV, your annual expenses are more than $11,000. Photo credit: Getty Images
You can't control the roller-coaster costs of gas. And you have only a little wiggle room on insurance fees. But you can save big bucks on car maintenance and repairs. Here's how to keep your car in good running condition-without shelling out too much.
1. Maintain and prevent.
The number-one
way to pay less on car repairs is to avoid them in the first place. Keep
your ride in prime shape by following the manufacturer's recommended
maintenance schedule. You'll find it in your car owner's manual (lost
yours? find it on Edmunds.com),
and service is usually suggested every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. "But
don't go by the recommended list of services a dealer or an auto shop
hands you; they may suggest extras you don't need," warns Carroll
Lachnit, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. Also, change your oil
as regularly as the manual mandates, which is probably every 7,500 to
10,000 miles, says Lachnit-and not every 3,000 miles as the quickie-lube
type shops may advise.
2. Find a reputable shop and be loyal.
Never pick a
repair shop out of the phone book or based on an ad. Ask for
recommendations from friends, family or coworkers, advises Jim Houser,
co-owner of Hawthorne Auto Clinic in Portland, OR. And once you find a
good shop, stay with it. "Shops tend to offer regular customers special money-saving coupons and breaks on repair costs because they know you'll return," he says.
3. Stick with independent shops.
Unless your car is under warranty and you must go to your dealer for
service, head to an independent shop. While these smaller outfits charge
close to the same as dealers for parts and labor, you'll save because
"they won't sell you unnecessary repairs
and services," says Houser. Since dealer service managers often work on
commission, it benefits them to sell you as many services as
possible-whether or not you need them.
4. Get a second opinion.
If a dealer pushes a service or repair that your warranty doesn't
cover, ask another dealer for their take, suggests Pam Oakes, owner of
Pam's Motor City Automotive, in Fort Myers, FL. If you bring your car to
an independent repair shop, get a second opinion for any fix over a few
hundred dollars. Try another independent shop that specializes in your
car's model or a chain like Honest 1 or Meineke if friends or family
have recommended them. Even if you have to pay to get the car towed to
the second shop, it's worth it, says Oakes. "You could save $1,000 or
more if you don't need the suggested repair or learn there's a cheaper
workaround," she says.
5. Do your homework and ask educated questions.
Look online for
basic info about your car's problem or suggested repair. You could save
money because you may learn which repairs are required and which are
just suggested. Then, prepare your questions. "The shop's staff will
respect you for being a good researcher and consumer," says Oakes. A
reputable shop should be willing to explain in lay language-and even
show you-what's going on with your car. If the owner or mechanic is
annoyed by your questions or talks over your head, he or she may be
trying to intimidate you, sell you unnecessary services or overcharge
you. Find a new shop, pronto.
6. Know average charges for repairs.
Websites like RepairPal.com and AutoMD.com offer estimates for common
repairs to your make of car in your part of the country. Not sure what's
wrong with your ride? You may be able to take a diagnostic quiz to
pinpoint the problem. And then you'll get a rough idea of what repairs
should cost so you're sure you're getting a fair price.
7. Pay attention to warnings your car gives you.
They're your vehicle's way of telling you it needs some TLC. Ignoring
those signals puts you at risk for doing major, expensive damage. So if
your check-engine light comes on, get it evaluated at a reputable shop
within a few days. If that light flashes, don't drive at all-get your
car towed instead. If your oil light comes on, immediately call for a
tow. Hearing an odd sound? Take the car in, suggests Lachnit. If it's a
simple fix, you'll get it taken care of before it morphs into a more
expensive repair.
8. Become a DIY-er.
You don't need to be that handy to change your windshield wiper blades,
swap out your air filter or put air in your tires, but doing these
yourself can save you money. For instance, oil-change shops charge $29
to $60 to replace an air filter, but Lachnit says you can buy one for
less than $15 and install it in five minutes. If you're hesitant about
making any of these fixes, ask your favorite mechanic for a few pointers
after you've developed a good rapport with him or her.
9. Baby your car.
Have your vehicle thoroughly washed and detailed every few months. It
may sound silly, but Oakes says car owners tend to drive more gently and
get repairs faster if their ride looks nice. A good-looking car also
discourages fellow drivers from casually dinging your door in the
parking lot. Likewise, be picky about where you park-even if you have to
walk a bit farther to your destination-so you avoid careless drivers
and scratchy bushes that may send you to the body shop.
10. Get a check-up before you travel.
Have your
mechanic top off your car's fluids and inspect the tires in advance of a
trip. After all, you don't want your car to break down in an unfamiliar
place and be towed to a mechanic you don't know if you can trust.
According to Oakes, anytime you end up in a shop you haven't
researched-or in an emergency situation when you can't compare repair
prices-you risk spending more than necessary and getting shoddy service.
