It can be very expensive to get your car fixed. Not only do you have to pay for parts, you have to pay for a mechanic to service your vehicle. Did you know that some repairs can be done yourself, saving a lot of money. It is really not as hard as you think, and the following article will show you how it is done.

Never underestimate how important it is to carrying an emergency kit inside your vehicle. This kit should include specific tools for charging your battery, changing your tire, etc. You may also want to add some batteries, a flashlight and a few blankets in the event that you break down at night.

Before allowing an auto shop to do repairs to your vehicle, ensure you are aware of the total cost. If you are unclear about certain things, clarification is needed before repairs are started. If you do not communicate with your mechanic, you might be surprised with additional fees once you receive your bill.

Your car should be washed regularly so that rust doesn’t become a problem. Every car is going to rust in the future, but this can be delayed if you just get all of the chemicals and salt off your car when you can. Protect your paint with good wax.

Get a referral if you want to see a reputable mechanic. Get recommendations from family and friends. Ask about the quality of the work, what it cost and what perks were offered. People will tell you about the mechanic’s honesty and if their experience was a good one.

Once a repair shop has finished with your car, go on a quick spin to make sure things are working properly. If you don’t, you may still experience the same problem with the car once you get it home.

Have a DIY kit for auto repair in your car at all times. The tools you need include tire changing equipment, which usually come with a car. If you’re missing a lug wrench and jack, then you need to buy one. You should also have good quality Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers, socket wrenches and a ratchet set, a torque wrench and an adjustable wrench. You should not have cheap tools. If you buy high quality tools, they will not break when you really need them.

Repair Shops

If you are having extensive repairs done, make sure that you get several estimates. Although most repair shops can be trusted, you do not want to have to spend some more unnecessary repairs. Check out other options which are trustworthy. These repair shops are better equipped to understand and repair any problem your car has.

Look at all lights that flash on the dashboard and learn what they mean. Use them to your advantage, they’re put there to guide you. If you ignore them, the problem will only become worse than it is now.

Before you drop off your car at a repair shop, take pictures of what the car looks like beforehand. While most shops would never strip your vehicle, some do this to increase their income. This can give you proper documentation in the case of an accident.

You might want to get all problems checked out no matter how small you think it is. The problem might get worse if you do not get it fixed quickly, or your diagnosis might not be correct.

Do not believe a mechanic who tells you it is necessary to get your engine flushed to maintain your car. Flushing an engine can be expensive and is only needed in cases where the engine is in bad shape.

Transmission Fluid

Never buy from a mechanic who promises that parts will last over the full lifetime of a vehicle. This is usually a ploy to get more money from you. Some cars may come with transmission fluid guaranteed for a “lifetime”. Although this special transmission fluid does last longer than regular fluid, it still needs to be replaced after 80,000 miles.

Problems seem to crop up only when the car is left with a mechanic. They do this to make you think you are getting a great deal. Tell them that you’re going to have to talk to them later so that you can seek out better pricing.

Good auto repair happens due to consistency. Take your vehicle to the same auto shop once you have found a good one. The same mechanic will know your car inside and out and will be best qualified to work on it. You may also have to pay more because they charge varying amounts depending on where you go.

After you pay the mechanic to replace older parts with newer ones, have them return the older parts to you. If he refuses, it may be because the part was never replaced. This is troublesome and you should tell him so.

Filing System

All auto repair receipts you have should be kept and filed. You can set your filing system any way you desire. Some people choose a chronological filing system while others may choose to divide them into the types of maintenance or repairs that were performed on the car. This way you will have all the details to hand if they are required for other mechanics down the line. This may prove to be invaluable.

Ask a mechanic lots of questions. Don’t just concern yourself with the price; rather, ask about everything that has to do with the repairs. Ask your mechanic how long the repair will take. What is the work being done? How much will parts cost? Do not hesitate to ask any questions your have. This will not only show the mechanic that you are well informed, it will also help should the same issue pop up again.

Almost every car needs repairs eventually. There are some repairs you can do yourself. It is possible to save your money and make repairs yourself. This tips in this article can help, so try doing your own.