Knowing the fundamentals of auto repair is necessary if you regularly operate a motor vehicle. Still, most owners don’t know anything about their vehicle. Thankfully, the tips below are a great start.

Do not let a mechanic work on your vehicle unless they are A.S.E. certified. This certification means that the technician has passed a written test and has over 2 years of experience under his or her belt. You will then know that you are dealing with a trained professional.

You absolutely need a good emergency kit inside your vehicle. Assemble a kit that has tools for changing tires, charging the battery and putting more gas in the car. Should your car break down in the dark, it is helpful to have extra batteries, a flashlight, and some blankets.

Beware of mechanics who do unneeded repairs on the car. A reputable mechanic will let you know when they see something else wrong with your vehicle and they’ll give you options as to how to proceed. If you notice a mechanic has made unnecessary repairs to your vehicle, do not go to the same one next time.

Look out for obvious “red flags” when dealing with a new auto repair company. If they are talking in circles and avoiding your questions, you should take your business elsewhere. It is important that you establish trust with the person who is going to fix your vehicle.

Always try to figure out the problem with your car before you bring it in for repairs. 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. You probably already know that certain mechanics will come with lies to charge more money.

Change your oil at least once every couple of months to stay safe. You have to change it regularly to keep your car running smoothly. Not having regular oil changes can end up damaging your car and effecting the overall performance.

Remember you don’t need to use a mechanic for car problems. Good mechanics can be found elsewhere, not only at the dealer’s shop. Trust someone that you’re comfortable with.

Before going to a mechanic, educate yourself on the standard classifications of car parts. There are several classifications. These include “new”, “re-manufactured, rebuilt, and reconditioned”, and “salvaged.” Obviously, “New” components are those recently created. If you are offered parts that are reconditioned or rebuilt, this means that they have been re-manufactured so that they are like new. Salvaged parts have been used and have not been restored in any way.

If you have been having minor car issues, you should have them checked out. Small issues can often turn into larger ones.

Bleed your brakes after you’ve worked on them and before you take your car out on the road. Pump your brake fluid after finishing this article, it couldn’t hurt. Test for any leaks to ensure you don’t have fluid coming out. Now you are ready for a test drive on streets that don’t have much traffic. Don’t drive too fast at first to make sure everything is working properly.

Talk to the manufacturer when you have a safety issue which could be fatal. There may be others having the same issues and it may require a recall from the manufacturer. The manufacturer may fix the problem at no cost to you.

Once a mechanic diagnoses your car, ask if you can take some time to consider whether or not you want to hire them. Call competitors and other mechanics to see how much you’d pay if you went to them instead. If you can find a cheaper rate, pay the first mechanic for their time and take your vehicle to the cheaper shop.

When you have paid for a new part, ask the mechanic to return the old one to you. If the mechanic does not give you your old part, then this is a good indicator that it actually wasn’t replaced. This is troublesome and you should tell him so.

When you own a car, you need to make sure that it is always in good working order. However, you may not know how to perform repair work yourself and you may not know how to find a good mechanic. If you keep this advice in mind, you’ll have no issues keeping your car on the road.