Save on Automotive Maintenance
When your automobile needs major repairs or general maintenance, you may be required to pay hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars to an auto mechanic or dealer for their services. Depending on the time you are willing to spend on maintaining your vehicle, you may have the ability to save a substantial amount of money on automotive maintenance if you perform the maintenance yourself, especially since many auto repair shops charge you for labor and inflate the costs of car parts that need replacing. You can also save money by using coupons for routine maintenance such as oil changes or tire rotation. Continue reading this article to learn about the many different ways you can save on automotive maintenance.
Contents
Steps
Performing Automotive Maintenance Yourself
- Use resources to help you perform your own automotive maintenance. You can find automobile manuals in bookstores or on the Internet, watch free online videos and tutorials that teach you how to perform certain tasks, and also consult with retail stores that specialize in automotive repair.
- Visit free video-sharing websites such as YouTube to watch demonstrations on how to perform certain tasks on your automobile. For example, if you want to locate videos that show you to perform an oil change on a Mazda Miata, type keywords into the video website such as "perform oil change on 2011 Mazda Miata."
- Visit a retail store that specializes in selling automobile supplies, parts, and maintenance tools. In most cases, the representatives that work in stores such as these can provide you with hints, tips, and pointers for performing specific tasks on your automobile.
- Change your automobile's air filters. In most cases, automotive shops will charge you up to 30 percent more for a new air filter compared to the price you will pay for a new filter at a retail store; plus, air filters on automobiles are most often located in spots that are readily accessible.
- Replace the bulbs for your tail lights and headlights. In most cases, mechanics will charge up to 30 dollars (22.94 euros) to replace tail lights or headlights for you; however, if you perform the work yourself, you may only have to pay up to 11 dollars (8.41 euros) for new bulbs.
- Refer to your automobile's manual to learn how to access and replace your tail lights and headlights.
- Perform your own touch-ups on paint scratches. Many automotive dealers will charge you over 100 dollars (76.48 euros) to touch up both small and large paint scratches.
- Buy car paint from an automotive retail store or directly from your vehicle's manufacturer, then follow the instructions provided with the product to repair and cover the scratches.
- Perform your own oil changes. Some automotive maintenance centers can charge you up to 50 dollars (38.24 euros) for an oil change; however, a quart of motor oil will usually cost you no more than 10 dollars (7.64 euros).
- Change your motor oil every 3,000 miles (4,828 km) and dispose of the used oil properly at an automotive service center or recycling center.
Discounts on Automotive Maintenance
- Ask automotive maintenance shops about discounts they can offer you. In some cases, an auto maintenance shop will provide you with an immediate discount to earn your business the same day, or to match the prices being offered by competitors.
- Call a variety of automotive shops to generate a list of prices and the names of shops that are willing to negotiate maintenance costs.
- Use automotive maintenance coupons. Many auto shops will advertise coupons in print that can be clipped from magazines or newspapers, or will place coupons on their websites that can be printed directly from the Internet.
- Visit coupon websites that provide you with daily deals, such as Groupon, to find coupons for oil changes or tire rotation services in your local area.
