5 Ways to Save Money on Car Repairs as a Student
We all love our vehicles. That is until they decide to break down on us. This can lead to some costly unexpected expenses that upend your savings plans. This is especially difficult if you are a student and need to afford tuition and rent. To ensure that you save the most amount of money possible on your next car repairs, here are some tips for you to follow.
Consider DIY Repairs
You may be thinking that you don’t know a whole lot about car repairs.
But, the truth is that you can discover a wealth of knowledge about basic car repairs online.
While you may not want to undertake the task of replacing your car’s motor, we’re sure you can handle replacing its battery.
When it comes to simple problems, take a moment to consider doing the repairs yourself.
This can save you tons of money in labor fees and will make it easier for you to handle future problems on your own.
As a student, you need to learn how to fix your car on your own, as you probably won’t have much money to blow on it.
Use Your Warranty
When you purchased that car of yours, you likely opted for the warranty option.
While you may have forgotten because you didn’t need it, there’s no reason you shouldn’t read through that warranty right now.
See what sort of repairs, such as brake repair, are covered under the warranty that you purchased.
You may be surprised at how much money you can save on vehicle repairs only by using that warranty that you’re already paying for.
Many warranties cover things from seatbelt failure to windshield cracks.
Consider Used Parts
Think about this for a moment. When vehicles are involved in an accident, or they need major repairs, a junkyard typically receives the car.
Just because the car is at a junkyard doesn’t mean that all the parts on it are bad.
Instead, there are likely a lot of mechanical parts that are still in prime condition.
You can purchase these used parts at a killer discount and save yourself a bundle on vehicle repairs.
However, make sure that you know how to identify a working part before taking this option.
Avoid the Dealership
While you may initially think that the mechanics at a dealership are going to be more knowledgeable when it comes to your repairs, that’s not always the case.
Many repair shops handle common repairs for vehicles like yours all the time.
And, the best part is that most repair shops charge less than the dealerships.
So, save yourself some green by merely going to a repair shop over a local dealership.
Even though most warranty deals require you to talk to your dealership, you may find a better overall price finding a trustworthy local mechanic.
Never Skip Your Preventative Maintenance
One of the best ways to save yourself a lot of money when it comes to car repairs is simply by performing preventative maintenance.
This type of maintenance includes things like changing the oil, rotating your tires, and so forth.
By taking a little time every so often to perform these necessary maintenance tasks, you can prevent much more significant problems from occurring in the future.
There are usually plenty of tire and mechanic shops that will perform this maintenance for you.
Though you might not like the idea of shelling out the money for them, it will be much cheaper than repairing your car when it inevitably breaks down.
Saving yourself some green when it comes to repairs for your car isn’t too hard to do.
The tips above will be a great place to start. We’re sure you’ll be able to come up with some more ideas as you work on employing the ones above.
So take advantage of your warranty, look to local mechanics, and keep up to date on your car maintenance.
This will ensure that your vehicle is ready for the long drive home for school break.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
Category: Car Purchase
