Whenever your vehicle breaks down, your only concern should be getting it running again. Having no car to use can be very inconvenient. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on car repairs. Keep reading to learn more about the basic repairs you can do yourself or find out more about hiring a professional.

Every time your car is repaired, regardless of how minor the problem was, make sure you keep a record. Should your vehicle encounter other problems down the line, it will helpful for the auto technician to see past records. No records means a blank slate to go on.

Be mindful whether additional repairs recommended are really necessary. A reliable mechanic will tell you if any parts are worn down and need replacing. But, they should ask for your approval before replacing them. Never bring your car to someone who doesn’t do the right kinds of repairs.

Remember that getting OEM parts is important. These are the manufacturer’s original parts. Although using generic parts may provide some short-term savings, it’s impossible to know whether or not they’ll hold up as well as OEM parts. Generic parts could end up costing you more in the long run.

You need a spare tire and jack with you all the time. Most vehicles come with them, but you want to check anyway. You don’t need to be stuck somewhere you don’t know and need to pay a lot for towing. You can save a lot by doing it yourself.

Replace your light bulbs on your own. Having a mechanic do it is horribly expensive. Ask someone you trust if he can teach you how to fix these problems.

Whenever you put gas in your vehicle, take a minute to measure your tire pressure. Examine the tires for anything that might be stuck in them. If there appears to be a problem, have it checked out as soon as possible. It is very dangerous driving on bad tires.

Warranties are extremely important when you take your car to get repaired, especially if you get expensive parts. Ask the mechanic about the parts’ warranty. Have a version of this warranty printed up so you can keep it with your records.

Watch out for the type of shop that will take off your good tires and put old ones on. This lets them profit from your loss. Before going in, mark up your tires with chalk. If you do not see the chalk when you return, you have been victimized.

Don’t allow auto mechanics to persuade you that getting an engine flushed is normal maintenance. This service is costly, and it is not really needed unless you haven’t been taking good care of your engine.

Few people take the time to go over the manual that comes with their vehicle. To better know your car, you should look over this manual. Your manual tells you all that you should know about how you can maintain your car yourself.

OEM is the abbreviation of Original Equipment Manufacturer. You need to know this when replacing parts. When you tell your mechanic that OEM parts are what you want, you sound like you have some knowledge. This will lower the chances of someone putting used auto parts on your car.

If you are concerned about someone having your back when auto repair is needed, look into AAA. AAA is beneficial in times where you need a tow or have to face repair shops You can often find discounts on an annual AAA membership if you shop around.

Clearly, repairing a vehicle need to require an expensive visit to a mechanic. Sometimes, you can even do the repairs yourself. Take what you have learned and put it to good use.