The cost of maintaining your vehicle can quickly rise to overwhelming numbers. This is why a lot of people put off maintenance, however, doing this is counterproductive as it will lead to bigger issues and more expenses in the future.
Instead of shying away from maintaining your vehicle, you can learn tricks to save money on maintenance. It’ll help you keep your vehicle in great shape while spending as little as possible. You avoid surprises if you plan for these maintenance and other repairs that may arise. Doing some little tasks can save you a lot of money and our goal is to show you these smart ways.
Remember that the cost of keeping your car in a good condition can vary based on its make, model, year and use. Also, regular maintenance has been shown to reduce the overall cost of repairs.
Follow these five smart tips to save money on your car’s maintenance:
Use a Trusted Local Repair Shop
Some repair shops are more focused on exploiting you than fixing your car, which is why finding a trusted repair shop in your locality is vital. So vital that it starts our smart tips list. You can save up to 30% of your maintenance cost by using the right shop.
Choose a shop with a track record of honesty and expertise. Even better if they are in various locations like Challenge so you can use them wherever you are. Using a trusted repair shop can help you get discounts on repairs, free diagnostics, and honest recommendations. These discounts and honest services add up in the long run to save you a lot.
Drive Gently
The way you drive your car has a huge effect on the level repairs it will need. Driving style is often overlooked when it comes to maintenance tips but it is one of the most important. I mean driving fast and rough can be a little exciting if you’re into that kind of thing, but sudden brakes and the minimal reaction time you get with that speed can damage car parts.
Aggressive driving stresses the vehicle and leads to a faster wear and tear of the parts. You can prolong the lifespan of parts like the brake pad and tires by driving gently. When you drive smoothly, you can gently navigate and also minimize scratches.
Try Basic DIY Repairs
While I understand not every person loves DIY, doing simple maintenance yourself will save you a lot of money. It can also help you pick up repairs faster and prevent full breakdown.
You can save between 30 to 50% of the cost of some simple tasks when you do it yourself. Tasks like changing oil and air filters take less than 10 minutes and will only cost the price of the materials. Other DIY tips you can practise include replacing wiper blades and checking the pressure in your tires. Doing all these helps you better understand your vehicle and pick up damages faster.
Practise Preventive Maintenance
Most vehicle owners like to ignore maintenance until it turns to repairs. This is not only unsafe, but also costly. Preventive maintenance is when you do routine vehicle check up as recommended by the manufacturers. You can easily pick up minor issues before they become serious and save money by fixing these problems early on.
It is also vital to keep track of all the maintenance and their schedule so you can plan ahead of the next scheduled date. Proper planning is a recurring theme when it comes to saving vehicle maintenance cost and record keeping is the first step.
Pay Attention to All the Fluids
Different parts of your car require certain fluids to work optimally. However, the number of fluids often makes it difficult to keep track of for the average driver. I mean, we’re talking of the coolant, engine oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, air conditioning refrigerant, and a couple more.
Notwithstanding, you have to pay attention to all the fluids and their recommended replacement times. Don’t worry, you’ll find all these in the owner’s manual. Now. you may not be able to replace all the fluids yourself if you’re the average driver, but paying attention to when they’re depleted or require changing will help.
Conclusion
These little tips all add up in time to save you money on maintenance for your vehicle. The good thing about all these is you don’t have to be a DIYer to use all the smart ways. Some are as simple as driving gently and choosing the right repair shop.
