The Best Ways To Save On Auto Repairs When You're Broke

If your car is in desperate need of some repair work and you fear it isn't safe to drive but you are low on cash, there are a few ways you can make the auto repairs a bit more bearable. You can find ways to get the repairs done for a lower rate if you take the time to look at all options and you know where to look. Here are a few things you'll want to consider doing before you give anyone any money to start doing repairs.

Always Get a Second Opinion

If you don't have a lot of money to spend, saving $100 is worth taking an extra day to have a second mechanic or auto shop look at the repairs needed, or taking the time to call around to different locations. If a shop is busy or has a lot of overhead, they may not be willing to go lower on the price, but a shop with highly qualified mechanics that is slow may be able to knock some cost off the total estimate. Exploring options will pay off.

Shop Used Parts

Some people remove the perfectly usable tires off their vehicle to add bigger or different ones, or they scrap their car out instead of selling it as a unit. These items are for sale for a lower price because they are used, and often they will be fine when you need to start driving your vehicle right away. There many online classified sites online dedicated specifically to used auto part sales.

Find a Local Mechanic School

A school that trains kids to be mechanics needs cars that have to be worked on and will offer services at a lower rate. The instructors will make sure that the car is fixed properly so you don't have to worry about having a vehicle that isn't safe to drive, or the repairs aren't being done correctly.

You may want to get your vehicle in for a diagnostic check before you let someone tell you what the cost is going to be, because you want to make sure you are paying for the right repairs. A local junk yard or scrap metal yard is a great place to start looking for used auto parts when you need to get discounted items, and ask the junk yard if they know of an affordable and reputable mechanic in the area to do the work.

Share