You Can Reduce Cost Of Car Repairs

November 29, 2010 by  
Filed under Auto Repair Info

Your car’s life doesn’t always involve smooth rides; humps and bumps are but natural occurrences along the way. Car problems or maybe even car accidents are sometimes inevitable, and these will require minor or major car repairs. Therefore, it pays to be familiar with the cost of car repairs today so that you won’t have to spend more than the appropriate amount.

Being Involved

When going for a car repair, there are a few things you must remember to ensure that you are on top of the situation and not simply on the mercy of your mechanic.

1.) Know the specific defect of your car. Do some research and ask other drivers. If you’re not so definite, you can further inquire from an auto mechanic to confirm your suspected trouble.

2.) Compare the prices of at least three repair shops to find the cheapest. This will entail effort, but it’s worth the savings.

3.) When you’ve finally chosen a shop, ask for the details of the repair and ask for a cost estimate. Be aware that some shops already charge fees just for simple diagnostic and estimate of cost. So, you have to search for auto repair centers that offer these services for free or you can ask friends or relatives for reference.

4.) You can also surf the internet to look for software that offers a standard estimate for various car repair works. However, know that these are only guides—the remedy and the cost may still vary according to the model or brand of your vehicle.

Cost control is imperative, especially if you’re dealing with a major repair or if the cost is significantly large. This is especially true if many of your car’s parts happen to be assembled not individually but by one whole unit—instead of replacing only the defective part, the whole section of your car will have to be replaced when a damage occurs.

Cost Reduction

To save on the cost of car repairs, you can opt to do some vehicle tinkering on your own. For simple or standard repairs such as replacing an oil pump or alternator or changing oil, you can study how to do it yourself by referring to free online demos or by asking those who are familiar with the process to show you the step-by-step procedures. Your owner’s manual will also be a great help when doing repairs or maintenance on your own.

You must also be proactive by regularly following the maintenance routines required by your car as indicated in the owner’s manual. And if you sense, smell, or hear anything unusual or defective while driving, attend to it promptly to avoid a bigger problem.

Lastly, you can also assess whether it would be practical to purchase an extended warranty for your car.

Reducing the cost of car repairs and maintenance is possible. Just follow the above-mentioned tips and you will surely be saved not only from car repair and maintenance costs but as well as from stress. With all these, you can add miles to a more peaceful ride and enjoy your vehicle more.

How Much Would It Cost To Have A Car Repaired?

November 29, 2010 by  
Filed under Auto Repair Info

The pleasure of having a car is totally extravagant. It would make life easier and would give value to our time. It can save us money, effort, and be away from the hassles in going anywhere. But then, there are some instances that we are in trouble that will cause our car to have some damages. Right then and there, we would think to bring our car to a repair shop but we would always consider the cost of our car repair.

For some folks who don’t have an insurance that covers car repair, it is a big problem for them to have their car repaired every time they hit an accident or every time their car gets damaged and needs a repair. In this case, we can’t do anything about it but face the consequence of having no car insurance for repair and then pay the expenses out of your own pocket. But how much would it really cost to have a car repaired? We always think if the price is right and if we are billed correctly. Well, that is a normal thought and we should do something about it just to make sure that there are no overcharges. There are some factors that we might need to consider before we pay the expenses of a repair.

The cost of car repair depends on the damaged part of your car. As a car owner, it is best that you initially check your car and know the part that needs to be repaired or replaced. In that way, you will know the estimation of the repair cost. You can do a manual calculation by knowing the price of that part that needs to be replaced plus the length of time needed to do the repair as this will do the cost of the repair person.

Most likely that will end up the total bill. If the repair shop would tell you an amount way behind to your calculation, try to ask them why it goes that high. In some cases, they will give you the breakdown. It may also possible that there are damaged parts that you are unaware, but you have to prove it so to avoid repair scams.

Before you hit a decision to choose an auto shop, try to do a survey. Ask estimation from different shops and the coverage of their repair. Don’t hesitate to ask the auto shops for the cost of car repair as most of the time, the estimation is for free and no risk. By doing this, you can compare each pricing and coverage included as you can decide which one has the best offer possible.

While you do the survey for your car repair, it is best that you only choose an auto shop with a name on the industry for long years. You have to choose a stable auto shop and make it sure that their jobs are excellent. You will know this by asking your friends about their experiences or you can have it checked online.