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Cars rarely help people make money — in fact, they start to depreciate in value as soon as they are purchased and driven off the lot. Typically, cars cost people more money by way of gas, insurance and, of course, maintenance and repairs. However, lots of people waste hundreds of dollars every year on their cars they do not need or can avoid.
GOBankingRates got the views of a mechanic and an auto expert on four common ways people waste hundreds of dollars on car repairs every year.
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Neglecting General Tuneups
“Lack of periodic maintenance and driving around without getting issues checked do more harm than good,” said Ralph Robert, car expert for Way.com. “Periodic maintenance costs anywhere from $600 to $800 per year. When you ignore periodic maintenance, you expose your car to wear and tear and partial or complete failure. With periodic maintenance, your mechanic can identify issues and fix them.”
“These minor repairs typically only cost about $46 to $66 a month, depending on the car’s year, make, model and usage,” said Alan Gelfand, owner of German Car Depot, an auto repair shop. “It is relatively cheap but some car owners neglect to stick to their regular schedule. Skipping these routine maintenance or oil changes can cost upwards of $3000 if a major engine component fails due to neglect.
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“Long-term issues such as engine sludge can result from such neglect,” Gelfand added. “Avoid such damage by sticking to your car’s maintenance schedule and by using high-quality oil with timely filter changes. These steps will help increase your car’s engine life and performance.”
“A started motor, for instance, quickly starts showing symptoms of failure, which can be easily fixed,” Robert explained. “By waiting until the starter motor completely fails, you are looking at spending up to $1,100 to fix it. The same goes for transmission issues, which you can fix for cheap rates if you fix it before a total transmission failure. If you wait for the transmission to fail, you could spend between $2,900 to $7,000 to fix that.”
Not Checking Tire Pressure
“Checking tire pressure and recharging or filling gas on time are all small things that collectively work to extract the best performance,” Robert said. “Keeping tabs on warnings like your check engine light or low tire pressure will ensure your car is always on its toes and prime.
“Ignoring simple things like low tire pressure can cause more wear and tear to your brake rotors, pads and suspension system. There will also be more load on transmission and tires, leading to more fuel consumption,” he added.
Non-Specialized Mechanics or Aftermarket Parts
For those who drive luxury or foreign cars, using non-specialized mechanics or aftermarket parts can be a huge waste of money, according to Gelfan.
“You may think you’re saving money here but an improper repair can actually cost you upwards of $2,000 in subsequent fixes due to accelerated wear,” Gelfand said.
For instance, he explained how German cars are built with specific engineering requirements that require mechanics with specialized knowledge.
“Opting to go with non-specialized mechanics can lead to substandard work or the use of generic parts that may not meet standards,” Gelfand explained.
“Avoiding this mistake is fairly easy,” he added. “Even though it costs a little more, all you have to do is find an auto repair shop that has factory-trained Bosch and ASE-certified specialists who use original equipment manufacturer parts. Doing this will prevent damage to your car’s performance and can lower future costs.”
Driver-Related Fines
“Driving without car insurance carries different fines for different states, which can range between $100 and $5,000,” Robert said. “Some states will even suspend your driving license registration and you could be sentenced to probation or community service.
“Driving with an expired registration plate or sticker will invite fines of between $40 and $500 [or] more,” Robert added. “You may also end up getting your car impounded, which will again cost you more money to release it from the impound yard.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Mechanic: 4 Common Ways People Waste Hundreds of Dollars on Their Cars Every Year
