According to AAA, Your costs can be up to $100 for car maintenance and everything related. As your car gets older, you’ll spend more to keep it in a relatively good shape. Do you think that by avoiding necessary car maintenance you will save money? You’re wrong! You’ll just end up paying more later when your car needs extensive repairs, but you can use these tips to ensure you’re not spending more than you need to. Save money with these easy tips now.

Consult your car’s manual

Your car’s manual has everything on exactly which components need to be repaired or replaced, and how often. Sometimes when you take your car to the mechanic for one repair, they suggest adding a few more. (For an additional charge, of course.) But you might not need all those repairs yet, so you can insist that your mechanic sticks to only what needs to be done now.

Don’t get an oil change too often

Remember when you got your first car, your parents always said that you need to change your oil every 3,000 miles. That was the standard suggestion years ago.

Time passed,  engine and oil technology evolved and that standard has changed, especially if you use synthetic oil. Many cars can go two or three times more before needing an oil change. As always, consult your car’s manual.

In an effort to reduce our environmental footprint and to limit the quantity of used motor oil getting into bodies of water, through the stormwater system, the California state government created an online tool where you can learn more about how often your specific car needs an oil change.

Learn how to “Do It Yourself”

You can learn a bunch much from doing simple repairs and “do it yourself’ projects on your vehicle.  Plus, you’ll save money by avoiding trips to the mechanic.

You’ll be grateful to learn how to do things like replace wiper blades, air filters, and front and rear lights. You can save all that money on the labor costs you will avoid. All you need to do is search online for your car’s make/model and the repair you need to do. In today’s tech savvy age, it’s relativity easy to find a ton of free tutorial videos to assist you in your DIY project.

Don’t make bad choices in an effort to save money

Don’t rush and make bad choices! Your attempt to repair a car yourself, without having an idea what you’re doing, can backfire. Sometimes it’s better to get help from a professional so your car can run safely. Repairs to major components like the transmission, timing belt, windshield, or airbags are best left to a trustworthy mechanic.

Likewise, there are times when spending a few bucks is worth it. For example, you should always put actual windshield wiper fluid in your car instead of water. Water can cause a bacteria build-up or freeze in your car.

Shop around

If you have an expensive repair, first do your research and find what the typical cost is. Luckily there is a site called Repair Pal and you can get an estimate from more than one mechanic.

If you need a component replaced, you may save money by buying the component on your own, instead of going through the mechanic or car dealership. You can bring that component to the mechanic for installation.

Pay attention to tire pressure

The pressure of your tires affects a lot more than you might think: the gas mileage your car gets, the wear on your tires and even the ease in which your car maneuvers. Usually, tires lose up to two pounds of air per month, so you should definitely check your tire pressure often.

While you can inflate your tires at a gas station, some stations will require you to pay a small fee to do so. If you live in a remote area, without a gas station around for miles, the cost to commute to the gas station just to top off your tire pressure might not be worth the trip, so consider buying a portable air compressor pump. You can use it for multiple purposes: to inflate car and bicycle tires, as well as air mattresses and basketballs. It’s an extremely useful device to keep in your car and makes topping off your tires easy to do from anywhere. We also have an article specifically for tire maintenance, that has in-depth information on how to take care of your car tires etc.

We hope you’ll use our tips for your car maintenance and save a lot of cash. And if you know anyone else that might have a benefit from the article feel free to share it, because it will probably help them out.