Are your car repair costs normal or are you spending way too much? Look for these signs to determine if you’re spending too much on car repairs.
If you drive a car that’s on the newer side, you can expect to pay about $1,200 every year to maintain and repair it. But it can cost a lot more than that if your car is getting up there in age.
As vehicles get older, there are a lot of common car repairs that will start to pop up. From replacing an oxygen sensor to overhauling a transmission, it will start to feel like your car is constantly in the shop.
If you and your mechanic are on a first-name basis and see each other more often than either of you would like, it might mean it’s time to get rid of your old car and buy a new one.
Here are some other signs that’ll let you know you’re spending too much on car repairs.
You’re Spending More Than Your Car Is Worth on Repairs
How much is your car worth at the moment?
If you don’t have any idea, check the value of your car now. See what you could get for it when you trade it in or sell it as part of a private sale.
If you find that your car is only worth a couple thousand dollars, it doesn’t make much sense to pour thousands of dollars into it for car repairs. It’s money you’re not going to get back later when your car finally dies on you.
It’s not the worst idea in the world to make one or two car repairs to keep your old car running a little longer. But if you’re essentially making a car payment every month to repair your vehicle, it’s time to think about getting something else.
You’re Picking and Choosing Which Repairs to Do
Some vehicle owners have a running list of things that are wrong with their cars. Every time they take them into the shop, they have their mechanic do one or two of them to keep the costs of their car repairs manageable.
By taking this approach, you’ll ensure that you always have problems with your car. You’ll start to lose confidence in your car before long and wonder what’s going to go wrong with it next.
If you have a long list of car repairs waiting to be done, consider getting rid of your car and purchasing something more dependable.
You’re Struggling to Keep Your Car Safe
You should not, under any circumstances, drive your car if it’s not safe. It could put you in a bad predicament if you’re ever involved in an accident.
The lawyers at a place like Hasner Law can help you in the aftermath of an accident. But in a perfect world, you want to avoid getting into an accident in the first place by either making the right repairs to your car or exchanging your old car for a new one.
Is It Time to Stop Doing Car Repairs?
Does your car have well over 100,000 miles on it? Is it more than 10 years old? Do you suspect there are going to be tons of new problems that appear when you take care of the old ones?
Stop doing car repairs immediately and invest in a car that’s more reliable. Your mechanic might miss you (and your money!), but it’ll be for the best in the end.
Check out our blog to see how easy it is to purchase a used car to replace your old one.
