| It is not uncommon for car owners to spend, over the | | | | that a glass of beer at a ball game will be overpriced: |
| course of several years, almost as much money on | | | | you're paying for convenience. |
| car repairs as they spent on purchasing the actual car. | | | | Parts |
| Auto service is notoriously expensive in many parts of | | | | If you buy your parts directly from the shop, they will |
| the country and can be debilitating to one's budget if it | | | | likely be marked up for profit. Some auto shops raise |
| comes at an inopportune time. Knowing a little about | | | | the price of car parts as much as 30% or more |
| the auto service industry and why car repair is | | | | above the MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail |
| sometimes so expensive can help you avoid | | | | price). Additionally, some vehicles, especially older or |
| overpaying for car service. | | | | vintage cars, will require parts that are harder to find, or |
| Labor | | | | are no longer made and have to be bought on special |
| When you pay for a car repair or a car part | | | | order from the manufacturer. |
| replacement, a lot of the times what you're paying for | | | | Now, if you want to save money on parts, it might be |
| is mostly the labor. The parts required for the job might | | | | a good idea to ask your mechanic, after an evaluation |
| be fairly cheap, but it is the time taken to complete the | | | | of the car is completed, to tell you what parts will be |
| job that you're being charged for. One of the keys to | | | | needed for the job. Then order these parts online for a |
| saving some money on labor costs is simply to shop | | | | discount and have your mechanic install those instead |
| around. Not all auto shops charge the same for labor. | | | | of the shop's. |
| In fact, labor costs differ greatly from shop to shop. | | | | Learn Some Basic Auto Maintenance |
| There are some that will charge you $80/hr or more | | | | One of the best ways to avoid expensive car repairs |
| on major repairs, but if you look around, you might find | | | | is to take good care of your car and learn to do some |
| others that charge $60/hr or less. | | | | basic auto maintenance. Procedures like changing your |
| Another thing to be aware of is that, if your car breaks | | | | oil when required are very easy to learn and anyone |
| down on the road and you take it to a nearby, | | | | can do them. There are even simple online guides that |
| roadside shop, you can be almost certain that the labor | | | | teach you how to do many of these so that you can |
| costs will be overpriced. This is for the same reason | | | | save yourself a trip to the car repair shop. |