6 Ways to Save on Basic Car Maintenance

Understanding how to fix a car is a valuable skill, but not everyone has the time to devote to it. Here are 6 simple tips that can save you money on car repairs when you pay someone else to do it


6 Ways to Save on Basic Car Maintenance

By Grayson Bell  Country Financial Security Blog  03/04/14

I’ve been doing my own minor car repairs for years. Ever since my brother became a mechanic, I was fascinated with how cars worked. After years of learning from him, I decided to start doing my own car maintenance. It’s been over 13 years since I first turned a wrench on my car.

Understanding how to fix a car is a valuable skill, but not everyone has the time to devote to it. Here are 6 simple tips that can save you money on car repairs when you pay someone else to do it:



Stop Changing Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles
For decades, the car industry has told you to change your oil every 3,000 miles. Most car repair and oil change shops continued to push this advice to consumers. But car technology has changed, and it’s become unnecessary to change oil every 3,000 miles. Most cars can handle going 5,000 or even 7,500 miles without an oil change – check your owner’s manual to see how often your car requires one.

Loyalty Can Cost You
Consumers tend to be loyal to places they enjoy. It makes sense, but it might not always be the best financial choice. When you’re dealing with car repairs, it’s best to shop around. If there’s a problem with your car, get multiple quotes – make sure the mechanic tells you exactly what’s wrong with your vehicle. When they do, call around and compare prices.

Go Local, Not National
We’ve all seen national car repair chains. They’re everywhere. The problem with these chains is their pricing structure is fixed – they won’t bargain with you as much because of their policies. For this reason, you should focus on going local. It’s always nice to support a local shop, they have a vested interest in serving the area and a better ability to bargain with you. I’ve found much better service at local shops than at national chains.

Educate Yourself
This takes time, but will save you the most money. If you can’t explain your car trouble to mechanics, they’ll charge you a hefty fee to diagnose the issue. The more information you can provide about what your car may or may not be doing, the better off you are.

It’s hard for a shop to upsell you a service when you know what you’re talking about (or at least sound like it). When I go into a shop for a service, I typically know what needs to be done and know what I can do the work for. There are times I don’t have the right tools to do the job, so I take it to a local shop. I go in, ask for a service, and then get a price quote. That’s when my knowledge comes in – I’ve never paid full price for a service.

I also research prices on parts and how long the service should take. Armed with that information, I have the power of negotiation. If you don’t understand much about cars, do a few Google searches before heading to the shop. Even that little bit of information can make a difference.

Buy Your Own Parts
Most people don’t know this little trick, but it can really save you money. I typically get a quote from the shop and then make sure they split parts and labor. I then head over to either AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, or O’Reilly to find the part.

When I need to get brakes for my Jeep, I head over to the auto parts store and buy rotors for about $30 per rotor. When I go to the brake shop, they want to charge me $50 per rotor. I can save $80, just by picking up my own rotors.

Forget the Add-On Services
Mechanics and shops make their money by selling additional services. It shouldn’t be a surprise to you, but they are trained to sell, sell, and sell. One of the most oversold and unnecessary services is the full vehicle fluid flush. While it’s good to replace your fluids, the cost of this service is way too high. Most shops use an auto vacuum to pull out the fluids, but there are many car manufacturers that warn against this. Fluids should be drained the proper (and cheaper) way, through their designated drain valve.

As I indicated before, if you are slightly educated about car repairs, then you can easily decline these services. Most are unnecessary, but all will cost you more than what you should be paying. What ways do you save money on car maintenance?


Grayson Bell is the creator of Debt Roundup, a personal finance blog that helps people fight debt and grow wealth. He is also a freelance writer and a DIY enthusiast, especially when it comes to cars.