There is nothing quite like the freedom of owning your own car. Whatever you want to do, you can get there with ease. Of course, this means that your car can break down at the most inconvenient time, leaving you stranded by the side of the road. This article will show you how to keep it running smoothly.

Keep a good battery charger in your car. Batteries die all the time, but you won’t be in trouble if you can charge it. It is important to not only have the battery charger but to know how it works as well in case you are alone.

Ask a potential mechanic if they have experience with working on the exact kind of car you have. If so, they will probably know what must be done to help your car work again.

Be sure to wash your car often so as to prevent rust. Eventually cars rust, but it can be delayed by washing off chemicals and salt as soon as you can. A good wax is your best friend: a friend that will protect that shiny new paint job for a long time.

Referrals will lead you to a great mechanic. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask your family and friends for their recommendations. These people will be able to provide you with the price, quality, and overall satisfaction of the mechanic. Avoid the mechanics who overcharged your friends or were not honest with them.

You should keep your car’s records in a handy location. One good place to keep them is in a folder in the trunk right above your spare tire. The auto mechanic can look at the records. Good documentation can help diagnose problems a lot faster.

When taking your car to the mechanic for repairs, never leave valuables in the car. Your personal items can get in the mechanics way, and they may have to move them. Take all items out of your trunk, too.

Before having repairs, see if you can diagnose the problem. You can save lots of money if you can diagnose the problem yourself. It also ensures that the mechanic won’t try to pull a fast one on you. Mechanics sometimes will cost you an arm and a leg for unnecessary repairs.

You ought to always have a spare and a jack in the car. Most of the new cars of today have them in the trunk. You don’t want to end up stranded somewhere and get stuck paying a lot for a tow. It will be quicker and less costly when you do it yourself.

Ask people you know about experiences they have had with repairing their cars. The search process can be improved with recommendations from friend and loved ones. That said, check up on who they refer as well. At the very least, look to online reviews to check out how others feel about the shop in question.

Always keep a clear and easy path to your key on the keychain. It is advised that you remove any and all fluffy keychains from the ring. This can help you drive safer and more secure. Too much weight on your keychain can cause your key to stick.

Don’t put off washing your vehicle during the winter time. The winter damages your car more than any other season. With so much sand and salt around, you are just asking for rust and abrasion. Just be sure that you’re drying your car off before you start to drive around so that ice doesn’t form.

Also know that doing the auto repairs yourself can prove rather dangerous. Have a person close by to help if an emergency occurs. It’s worth your money to spend more on a higher quality tool. This is particularly true with tire changing tools. The jack has to hold the car up without any trouble while you are working on the underside of the car. A hydraulic jack which comes with jack stands that are approved is your best bet.

You should check the tire pressure when you go to the gas station. Look at them and be sure they don’t have anything embedded in them. If you see anything wrong with them, get the problem fixed right away. You do not want to risk driving around with faulty tires.

Warranties are extremely important when you take your car to get repaired, especially if you get expensive parts. Always ask the mechanic concerning warranties about parts they install on your car. See how long they should last and request a contract, too.

Just because the car has stopped doesn’t mean you must spend a ton to get it repaired. DIY fixes are often simple and cheap. Use these tips to get the vehicle started again.