11 Simple Ways To Keep Car Maintenance Costs Low (Even if You’re Clueless About Cars)

One of the hardest money moves for car owners is to figure out how to save money during ownership of the vehicle. You might need repairs or maintenance on your vehicle, but those costs can add up and get pricey as your car ages.

The good news is there are ways to reduce the cost and keep some cash in your pocket while your car still runs in top shape. Here are a few ways to keep those maintenance costs down.

You should have a professional make repairs to your vehicle or perform regular maintenance on your car, but you might be surprised that you can do some easy things yourself.

It’s easy for you to check your car’s fluids yourself, and you can add things like washer fluid on your own. You also may want to review things like YouTube for maintenance issues like repairing windshield wiper blades that require some basic knowledge to replace.

You may go to the same shop for regular maintenance, so see if you can negotiate a deal for some maintenance issues.

The service station may be willing to accept a lower offer or give you a discount on some services, especially if you’re a regular customer and they know they can count on you to come back for maintenance and repair issues.

You may belong to a group like AAA that can help you with roadside assistance, but your membership could also get you a discount with some auto shops.

Groups like AARP may also offer discounts for members when you need routine maintenance, such as an oil change for your vehicle.

Even something as basic as an oil change or tire rotation can vary from shop to shop when it comes to costs.

It’s a good idea to do some comparison shopping when you know your car is due for maintenance so you can check on different prices and get the best deal when you’re ready to take your car in.

You might be surprised at what your car insurance will cover when it comes to maintenance costs.

Maintaining your car could prevent costly repairs later, so an insurer may have discounts and deals that will encourage you to get maintenance now rather than paying more to fix issues later.

There are local auto parts stores or chain stores where you can buy parts and get a discount on the service.

Check your local parts store to see if they’ll give you a discount or even free installation of a part if you buy it through their shop rather than going somewhere else for parts and service.

You don’t have to go to a typical auto shop or service department at a dealership to get maintenance and repairs for your vehicle.

Places like Costco and Sam’s Club, for example, sell tires and may even include installation as part of your deal if you buy them there. Their work may also include roadside assistance or a warranty to help you save some extra cash.

Your car may be telling you it needs maintenance based on unusual sounds or issues that are a nuisance for now but could become something bigger later.

You may be worried about paying to have maintenance done now for a small rattle or squeak, but it could cost less to deal with the issue today than if the problem gets worse later and needs a costly repair.

You might live in an area that has wide swings in temperature and weather conditions throughout the year, so it may be a good idea to winterize your car for snow conditions and then switch back any changes in warmer months.

Consider things like making sure you have enough antifreeze or switching out your tires for snow tires, which can help you stay on the road and keep your car protected under challenging conditions.

Some cars may need more maintenance than others or could have a higher cost for basic maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations.

It’s a good idea to do some research before you buy a car to find out estimated maintenance costs. You might be surprised at how much you can save by choosing the right car before you take it in for its first maintenance.

It’s important to stay on top of your car’s maintenance schedule and take it in on time for things like oil changes, fluid checks, tire rotations, and other items on your maintenance checklist.

Preventative maintenance now could help you save money compared to paying for costly repairs because you didn’t keep up on protecting your car.

It can be hard to keep your car costs low when paying for maintenance on your vehicle, but there are ways to save money while you stay away from that heavy mechanic bill we all fear.

In addition to repair and maintenance costs, you should also review things like gas prices to see if you can find more affordable options and do your research to save money on car insurance for your vehicle.