Car expenses can add up, and sometimes it can seem like it's a good idea to put off routine expenses like minor maintenance and car services to save a few dollars. The reality, however, is that this isn't a good idea and can even have the opposite effect, exacerbating the financial dent that postponed services can have.
There are other ways to save money when it comes to getting your car serviced, though, and some of them don't take that much time at all. While it is true that cars have become modern, technological marvels, there are still several quick measures you can take to save yourself time and money down the track.
Firstly, research and experience are key. Hunt for a reputable outfit providing car services and stick with them. Not only will they get to know your car better, making future work more efficient, but having a strong relationship with them can open up the door for transfer of knowledge and even pricing restructuring.
Secondly, there are a few minor tasks that you can (and should) do at home that will make the service a smoother experience, and all are easily executable with the help of a trusty car manual.
Many people neglect to change the oil in their car despite it being well detailed how often and how to do so in the car's manual. Regularly changed oil greatly increases the longevity of an engine and means you'll be forking out much less frequently for major repairs. Additionally, minor car maintenance like inflating your tyres correctly, keeping fluids up, changing the oil filter and even simply keeping the car clean can make a noticeable difference to the bill at your next service.
The third item in the trifecta of service savings is knowledge. Learn as much as you can about your car. You don't have to know the size of every bolt or the length of every wire, but having a general understanding of how your specific car works will make it much easier to judge how to approach big repairs and maintenance. It will also mean you can have a legitimate conversation with your mechanic when they're letting you know what they've done!
As technology advances, modern cars are becoming more and more resolute against the toils of maintenance neglect, but that doesn't mean you can't take a few little steps to save yourself time and money in the short- and long-term future of your vehicle.
