On average, owning a car can cost $6,354 per year for a small sedan and $10,054 for a pickup truck. One of the major costs associated with owning a car is making repairs.
If you’re experiencing car problems and need a major repair, it can be tough to come up with the money. Repair costs can be significant, and many Americans don’t have savings ready for emergencies.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the cost of repairs and get your car into working order again. Read on to learn how to afford auto repair costs.
Get an Auto Repair Loan
One of the ways that you can pay for auto repair costs if you’re short on cash is to get an auto repair loan.
There are many auto lenders out there that offer options for getting auto repair financing quickly. It’s a good idea to search around and look online to find an auto lender that can help you pay for the costs of your repair.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to have a good credit score to get a loan and you’ll need to be in good financial standing. While it can be costly to pay interest on one of these loans, it could be worth it in a pinch.
Borrow From a Family Member or Friend
If you’re unable to pay for a car loan on your own, you may want to get help from a family member or friend.
While it may be difficult to ask for cash from someone you know, it could be well worth it. If you know someone willing to help, you can get cash from them to pay for your auto repair and they may not even need to pay interest.
However, if you borrow money from a family or friend, make sure that you take it seriously. Be sure to pay them back in a timely manner. Otherwise, borrowing money from them could harm the relationship you have.
Use a Credit Card
While it’s not an ideal solution for fixing a car, you can also consider paying for automotive repairs with a credit card. Credit cards can be very useful in emergency situations in which you’ll need to pay for something quickly without having cash on hand.
One of the instances in which you might want to use a credit card is when you need to make a car repair. By using a credit card, you can get your vehicle to start working again immediately.
Credit cards are very convenient to use and can be very helpful in these situations. However, remember that interest can be high on credit cards and you could end up paying a lot for your repair overall.
Use a Car Warranty
If you have a car warranty, you may be able to use it to cover your repair. An extended warranty will help with automotive repairs and can help you to get all or some of the costs covered.
A warranty can be very helpful for covering your repairs and getting your car back on the road again quickly. However, you may need to read the fine print or check with your warranty provider to find out whether the repair will be covered or not.
So are car warranties worth it or not? Be sure to visit the link to find out.
Compare Your Options
If you have a limited amount of money available to pay for car repairs, then you should compare your options.
If you’re able to get your vehicle to several different repair shops and you want to find the best price, you should shop around. Don’t necessarily choose the first option you find. Instead, look for a mechanic that can do quality repair work and who will also offer a good price.
With mechanics, prices can vary quite a bit, so shopping around can allow you to find the best deal and spend less money overall.
Negotiate With Mechanics
When talking to a mechanic, be sure that you ask more about what your options are. See if there are ways to negotiate the price.
If you let the mechanic know you’re strapped for cash, they may be able to come up with a way to fix the vehicle in a more affordable way or can use more affordable parts. Some mechanics will also have special financing options or payment plans that you can use to ease your burden and get the repairs you need.
Ask About Discounts
When speaking with a mechanic, you should also find out if there are any discounts available or not.
There are sometimes special deals that you can make use of to get money off of your repair based on the memberships you have. For example, you might be able to find a mechanic that offers a AAA discount or a discount for seniors. There might be other discounts that you can make use of as well.
Be sure to talk with a mechanic to find out if there are any discounts that you can use to reduce the total cost of your car repair bill. If there are, they can be very helpful in getting your repair done for a lower price.
Reducing Auto Repair Costs With These Tips
If you want to reduce auto repair costs, be sure to consider all of the tips and tricks listed above. Using an auto warranty, getting an auto repair loan, and negotiating with a mechanic are all ways that you can reduce the cost of your next car repair.
Need more helpful automotive tips? Find more useful tips by reading through our articles.
