Car ownership has become a necessity for almost everyone nowadays and is essential for allowing us to get from point A to point B in the easiest way possible.
In addition to being convenient, however, owning a vehicle also comes with responsibilities – and one of these responsibilities is maintaining your car properly, which can be very pricey.
Understanding how to budget for car maintenance early on in your car owner journey can seriously benefit you in the long run.
By knowing what to expect when it comes to car maintenance costs, you will be able to make better decisions about where to spend your money and whether or not you need to invest more than you initially thought.
This also means that you will be prepared for anything and never have to worry about taking your vehicle off the road for long periods of time.
Read on to learn how to budget for car maintenance and the sorts of costs that you should be preparing for.
Know Your Car
The first step in knowing how much to budget for car maintenance is to ensure that you understand your particular vehicle and its needs.
This involves learning as much as possible about your car’s history, including any previous repairs and maintenance.
You should also know the exact model and year of your vehicle so that you can compare this information against other vehicles of the same type.
This knowledge will allow you to understand the types of things that are likely to go wrong with your car and why they may occur.
It will also help you identify potential problems before they happen, giving you the chance to fix them yourself if necessary.
Learn About The Different Types Of Maintenance Costs
Once you have a clear idea of what sort of issues your car tends to experience, you’ll want to consider the different types of maintenance costs that you could incur. These include:
- Oil changes – oil changes occur when your engine requires new oil and are usually recommended every 3,000 miles.
- Tire rotations – tire rotations are recommended at regular intervals, depending on your tires’ size and tread depth.
- Brake service – brake services are recommended every 6 months or 12,000 miles, depending on the age of your brakes.
- Air filter replacements – air filters are replaced periodically, depending on the amount of dust in the air around your home.
- Battery replacement – batteries are generally replaced every 10 years, but some cars require battery replacements sooner.
- Engine tune-ups – engine tune-ups are recommended every 2 years, or ideally annually, and involve replacing spark plugs and cleaning out the combustion chamber.
- Transmission fluid replacement – transmission fluids are required regularly and are typically changed every 5 years.
- Coolant system flush – coolant systems are flushed periodically and are typically done every 1,500 miles.
- Wiper blade replacements – wiper blades are often replaced every 15,000 miles, though some people replace their wipers earlier than this.
- Windshield washer refill – windshield washers are refilled periodically and are typically changed once per month.
- Spark plug replacements – spark plugs are replaced periodically and are typically replaced every 30,000 miles.
Knowing these different types of maintenance costs allows you to plan for the future.
If your car has been experiencing certain problems over the past few months, then you can schedule an appointment with your mechanic to fix those issues immediately.
Budgeting For Your Vehicle’s Future Needs
The next step in determining how much to budget for your car’s maintenance is to determine whether there are any major repairs that need to be scheduled soon.
This includes anything from routine maintenance to more serious issues like engine overhauls or transmissions.
If you’re not sure whether your car needs a repair, it’s best to take it to a professional who specializes in servicing your type of vehicle.
They will be able to tell you whether the problem is something that can wait until later or whether it should be addressed immediately.
When it comes to making decisions about your car’s future, it’s always better to error on the side of caution.
You don’t want to put off fixing a problem because you didn’t realize it needed attention until now. By scheduling regular maintenance, you ensure that your car stays safe and reliable throughout its life.
Shop Around
When the time comes to make repairs on your car, it is important to shop around for good prices – and it can help you do this in advance of any issues for the most common problems.
If you have a good idea of the cost of repairs for a likely issue, then you can include this in your budget and save money by shopping around before you need to make a purchase.
For example, if your car needs new tires, you might consider buying them at a discount when they go on sale. The same goes for other parts, such as oil changes and brake pads.
You may also want to check out local auto shops to see what kind of deals they offer on repairs.
Some mechanics will even let you pay for services upfront so that you won’t have to worry about paying for them until after the work is complete.
It’s also worth checking out online resources for information on the cost of repairs.
Websites like Kelly Blue Book provide detailed breakdowns of the average price for various repairs, which makes it easy to compare prices between different mechanics.
You can use this information to decide whether you want to visit a particular mechanic or shop or whether you would prefer to try another one instead.
Final Thoughts
While it’s true that some cars require less maintenance than others, it’s still a good idea to keep up with routine maintenance.
It ensures that your car continues to run safely and reliably and helps you avoid costly repairs down the road.
By keeping track of the amount you spend on your car’s maintenance each month, you’ll be able to set aside enough money to cover any unexpected expenses that come along.
As a current Mortgage Underwriter with 15 years of experience, I have seen my fair share of money-related issues. Whether that be high levels of debt, not enough credit, or simply a lack of funds - I’ve had clients who fit into these categories.
Here I will share tips, tricks, and experiences on how you can get yourself back in control of your finances.
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