Honestly, there’s nothing more annoying than needing to fix your car, especially when you’re on a tight budget. To make things worse, car dealerships and mechanic shops take pride in draining money from people with their high prices on auto parts and services. That being said, wouldn’t it be great if you could find a used car and just pick n pull parts from it to fix your own car? When we think about it, this would be much more convenient than having to wait for service at a dealership just to pay way more than what we should be paying for a car part. As an added bonus, this method also contributes to the benefits of recycling car parts. It’s a winning method for anybody in this situation. Worth mentioning, it’s also one of the few options to consider apart from paying extra money at a shop. With this in mind, let’s take a look at 5 other tips on how to save money when fixing your car.
Tip #5: Deal With More Than One Dealership
When it comes to finding parts for your car, one of the most effective ways to haggle out a cheaper price is by negotiating with at least two different dealerships. Whether it’s to get a lower price on a used car or car parts, this method is on the list of car buying 101 tips as well. In fact, this method is not that difficult to use. What it comes down to is asking two different dealerships the cost of the car or part you want to buy and then buying the cheapest option. A determined buyer would go as far as asking every local car dealership or mechanic shop in their area.
Tip #4: Researching Vehicle History
This tip is one of the most important tips when it comes to car buying. In fact, this is more so the case if you want to save money. For one, researching the vehicle history can result in finding an unwanted problem with it. This, in turn, leads to the devaluation of the car which means having to pay less for it. Such a simple tip, yet one of the most effective at saving money.
Tip #3: Knowing How To Pay For It
All this means is knowing whether you are going to pay in cash or with an auto loan. This tip helps save money is that, if you know you are going in with the intention of paying cash or using your own loan, you avoid being bombarded with dealership loans which are known to be among the worst. In general, it’s best to save up and use your own cash for a car part. As far as buying a new car, consider taking out a loan from your own bank if it’s necessary. It might not have seemed like an important tip at first but, as we can see, knowing how to pay for your car can be a lifesaver.
Tip #2: Invest In Your Own Tools
Arguably, the most effective way of avoiding the high prices that dealerships and mechanics give out is by investing in your own tools. For that matter, it might be a good idea to invest time learning the basics of car mechanics. In the long run, it can end up saving you thousands of dollars over a lifetime of savings. It all adds up in the end.
Tip #1: Consider Buying/Borrowing From Family & Friends
This tip is usually seen as a last resort. When every other option has failed, that is when people turn to the assistance of family and friends. Well, as it turns out, it can be one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get the car part or car that you need. In reality, the benefits of this method should make it one of the first options that people turn to. When we break it down, this method helps in reducing the chances you get scammed out of money, eliminates the waiting time and hassle of going to a dealership or mechanic, and has many other similar benefits. All in all, no one should be ashamed of asking friends and family for support in this area.