5 Money Saving Tips Mechanics Know That You Don't

These days everyone is looking to save a buck, or a hundred. Car repair actually happens to be a major expense that most people don't budget for as it's unexpected, and therefore, unpleasant. We support your efforts to save more cash, so we've come up with a list of automotive-repair related money saving tips that any consumer can follow. 

1) Save money on duplicate labor charges - While it may seem counter-intuitive, if you are getting repairs done, there are instances where you're better off actually asking for additional parts to be replaced preemptively. The reason for this is when a mechanic is performing work on your car, he may have to remove lots of parts before getting to the part that is causing the actual problem. If you have other work done simultaneously, you can avoid higher labor charges when the other parts inevitably need to be replaced. A good example is a water pump and timing belt job. You will want the mechanic to replace the water pump at the same time as the timing belt, since it will have to be removed to perform the timing belt job anyway. This will save you the extra labor charges when it comes time to replace the water pump.

2) Read the owner's manual - Yes, I know what you're thinking: obvious, right? The vast majority of vehicle owners never read the owner's manual. By neglecting to perform this very basic task, they are unaware of a multitude of money-saving advice, from the type of gas they should use, to properly reading dashboard alerts, to following scheduled maintenance. Something as obscure as entering a security code in a car radio to unlock it after a jump-start can easily be found in the owner's manual, but many people won't even consider looking before taking the car in for a service. Mechanics are happy to perform a diagnostic, but they don't work for free and it never makes sense to pay someone to do what you could easily do yourself. 

3) Get your own code reader - If your check engine light or other error code comes on in your car, you have 3 choices: ignore it, take it to a mechanic, or read it yourself with a code reader. You can easily purchase one online and use it to at least get an explanation of what's wrong with your car before bringing it to the mechanic, making you a more informed consumer. Code readers are small, handheld portable devices that you can easily plug into your car's computer. The code-reader will give you a reading, which tells you what the car's computer has identified as the car's issue. There are many websites dedicated to helping you decipher the codes and possible causes, so you can possibly save yourself some money up front. 

4) Paint-less dent repair - Auto body work is very expensive, especially if you only deal with highly-qualified auto body shops. However, for many car "bruises," you can save quite a bit of money by simply hiring someone to perform paint-less dent repair. While not every type of damage will be fixable by PDR, many minor dings and dents will look like new. The benefit is the cost savings that comes from avoiding having to match paint and perform the complicated process or stripping, priming and painting new parts, not to mention the overhead of going to a fully functional auto-body shop. Many PDR specialists are also mobile, which means they have nearly zero overhead, passing the savings to you. 

5) Preventative maintenance - This is by far the most important money saving tip that many car owners doesn't realize, but mechanics are well aware of. Oil changes, fluid checks, belt replacements, air filters, tires, brakes, alignments, the list goes on and on. The most diligent car owners will save the most money in the long run, there is no doubt about it. The most diligent car owners know exactly what kind of maintenance their car requires and make sure not to neglect it. This is why they don't end up standing in a mechanic's lobby, enraged at how so much work could possibly be required. The better care you take of your car, the better your car will treat you in return. Focus a little bit of attention on preventative maintenance now and your wallet will thank you well into the future.