With high prices in mind, keep these money-saving tips in mind. Get multiple estimates. Ask for an estimate of labor and cost. Find out if your insurance offers discounts.
Establish a relationship with an auto body shop. Recently, my 18-year-old Toyota Corolla was turning around. It seemed like everything was going wrong at the same time. First of all, my car failed the emissions test. That same day, the battery light came on and it refused to turn off. For the past year, I relied on our trusty 2002 Tahoe to get us from point A to point B.
It may not be the newest or brightest vehicle in the main truck line, but 150,000 miles later, including 4 cross-country road trips, it's still running strong. Do some research in used car parks to see if you can find out who repairs dents and dents on used cars for sale. They say that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, and this is never more true than with proper car maintenance. Well, let me tell you that it was the first lemony vehicle I owned and I learned how frustrating (and costly) car repairs can really be.
They will have certifications in one or more of the eight automotive repair classifications, such as brakes, steering and suspension or engines. While it may seem a little daunting at first, there are actually quite a few basic car repair and maintenance tasks that are simple enough for even a novice to take on. These include changing your own oil, keeping your car clean, inflating your tires properly and finding a mechanic and getting good prices for maintenance. If they give you an estimate of a long list of additional maintenance services, make sure they can show you that this is a list for your specific vehicle and that it matches the current mileage of your car or truck.
Proper maintenance of your vehicle doesn't have to be expensive, and if you do it responsibly, you'll save money on the ongoing maintenance and care of your car. There are gas, oil changes, scheduled maintenance, new tires and brake pads, and even the odd engine control light that you should keep in mind from time to time.
