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8 Tips for Saving Money on Vehicle Repairs

Rebecca Alwine
by Rebecca Alwine
June 19, 2018
Photo by Airman Aubree Milks

Photo by Airman Aubree Milks

I  always  tell  people,  I’m  quite  sure  I  could  fix  that  problem  with  my  car,  but  I  just  don’t  want  to.  We’ve  always  lucked  out,  having  friends  at  each  duty  station  who  enjoyed  tinkering  with  their  cars,  and  would  work  with  my  husband  as  he  fixed  things  on  his  Mustang  or  changed  the  oil.  I  would  gladly  make  some  cookies  or  pour  some  lemonade  as  they  worked  hard, anything to cut down the cost of those vehicle repairs.

So  what  ways  can  you  save  some  money  while  doing  your  own  vehicle  maintenance?

Air National Guardsman  Christopher  Bernard shares how  he  got  to  the  point  of being comfortable  doing  his  own  maintenance.

“The  first  big  project  I  did  on  my  own  was  replacing  the  brake  pads  and  rotors  on  our  SUV,”  he  said.  “As  someone  who  didn’t  have  any  experience  in  making  vehicle  repairs,  I  learned  some  important  lessons.”

Watch  the  whole  YouTube  video,  read  the  whole  tutorial.  In  fact,  watch  a  few  videos  and  read  the  online  guide.  Don’t  cut  corners  here!

Preparation  is  the  most  important  part  —  you  don’t  want  to  take  apart  the  car  and  then  discover  you  need  to  go  buy  another  part.

Bernard  continues  with  some  advice.  “Effectively  diagnosing  a  mysterious  sound  or  other  issue  is  also  an  important  starting  point  for  deciding  if  you  will  attempt  a  repair,  or  take  it  to  a  professional.  Sites  such  as www.automd.com can  help  identify  an  issue,  and  provide  guidance  on  making  repairs  or  getting  a  fair  price  with  a  mechanic.”

Of  course  there  are  some  people  who  are  willing  to  jump  in  with  both  feet  and  start  by  repairing  something  complicated.  And  then  there  are  those  who  will  want  to  start  with  something  simpler.

Auto  mechanics  exist  for  a  reason,  so  if  you  are  at  all  hesitant  about  whether  you  can  complete  the  task  yourself, you  should  get  a  second  opinion.

With  all  things  on  the  first  attempt,  a  backup  plan  is  going  to  be  your  best  friend.  Do  you  have  a  second  family  car  in  case  the  repair  takes  longer  than  expected?  Or  in  case  you  need  another  piece  to  finish  the  repair  job?  What  if  you  totally  blow  it  and  need  to  then  get  your  car  to  a  mechanic,  can  you  afford  that?  Think  about  the  whole  process  before  getting  started.

Having  a  backup  plan  for  how  you  will  handle  a  problem  is  another  important  factor.  Can  you  get  a  ride  to  an  auto  parts  store  if  you  are  missing  a  critical  item?  If  you  accidentally  render  your  vehicle  undriveable,  do  you  have  access  to  an  affordable  towing  program,  like  AAA,  that  can  help  you  get  your  vehicle  to  a  mechanic?  Sometimes  do-it-yourself  projects  are  fun,  and  sometimes  they  are  a  disaster,  and  DIY  vehicle  maintenance  can  be  the  same.

Here  are  eight  ways  to  start  saving  some  money  on  vehicle  repairs  that  Bernard  shared:

  • Keep  spare  bulbs  (for  headlights  and  brake  lights)  in  your  car.
  • Use quality  fuel  and  motor  oil  as  a  preventative  tool.
  • Keep an  eye  on  areas  that  wear  regularly,  so  you  can  plan  for  the  replacement  costs.
  • Rotate your  tires  regularly  and  check  the  air  pressure  to  prevent  accidents  and  early  replacement.•  If  you  hear  cracking  or  squeaking,  have  your  serpentine  belt  checked.
  • Make sure  your  wiper  blades  are  in  good  shape,  before  you  need  them.  Check  them  with  the  change  of  season.
  • Changing your  own  oil  and  spark  plugs  may  be  a  good  way  for  you  to  start  out  and  save  some  money.
  • Remember that  the  first  time  may  be  more  expensive,  as  you  have  to  buy  tools,  but  over  the  long  run,  it  will  save  you  money.

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Tags: AAAAir National GuardFinancial Readinessvehicle repairs
Rebecca Alwine

Rebecca Alwine

Rebecca Alwine is a freelance writer, Army wife, and mother of three. Over the past 15 years, she's discovered she enjoys of coffee, lifting weights, and most of the menial tasks of motherhood. When she's not writing, she can usually be found hiding behind the sewing machine or with her nose in a book. Her motto: work smarter, not harder.

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