If you own a car, you have a long list of the necessary maintenance and potentially expensive repairs, especially if your goal is to keep an old car to the way as long as possible. The average costs for car type and repair run approx. 10 cents per mile– or almost 1,500 US dollars a year if you drive an average of 15,000 miles. And surprise repairs can be much worse than that -like a new gear (usually more than 5,000 US dollars) or a new head seal (approx. 2,000 US dollars).
If you know each other in a vehicle in the way, you can save some money by doing this Your own repairs. However, if you are not the DIY type, there is still a few hope: you may be able to do free (or very cost-effective) maintenance and repair work on your car.
Check the recalls and guarantees
Your first stop should be a thorough examination of the guarantee of your car if you have a and potential recall. The guarantee of a manufacturer for a car Usually transfers to a new ownerSo your vehicle may still be covered, even if you have missed it to check this when buying. And certified used cars usually also have a limited guarantee, so you may have options there.
Calls can be easily overlooked when buying a used car, and they only treat specific problems. But if one of these specific problems is your Problem to find out that you have one on your brand and the model can have it repaired for free, so it’s so It is worth checking.
Pep Boys & Autozone
You can actually do small maintenance tasks too much free of charge Pep Boys And Car zone Locations, including windshield wiper replacement, free reports from “motor”, free electrical tests and battery charge as well as free alignment checks.
In order to be fair, these are clearly “loss conductors” services that you should bring to the store in the hope that you only pay you for work if you find problems. However, these are rightly free maintenance services with which you can save a little money – and possibly draw attention to a large repair invoice with which you have to deal with in the near future so that you can make plans.
Many local mechanics carry out these controls and maintenance tasks free of charge (for the same reasons). It is therefore worth calling and checking whether this is an option.
Goodwill repairs
Dealers and mechanics occasionally do what is known how “GoodwillRepairs. These are repairs or other maintenance work that are no longer covered by a guarantee or another official agreement that is still carried out for you at no cost. Goodwill repairs are repaired exclusively at the discretion of the dealer or the mechanic, so that there is never a guarantee of getting one. On the other hand, it doesn’t hurt to ask. If your vehicle is only outside the guarantee breakdown or has a long relationship with your mechanic, it is possible that you are ready to do a good job for you.
Commercial schools
If there is an automotive trade or a professional program near you, it is possible that the students will look for cars as part of their learning process – for you. There is no guarantee that a program in your region is looking for cars that need to be repaired, but it is worth finding out. You can Find local car mechanic programs here To do some research and to check whether exercise vehicles need in your area.
Aid programs
If you do not find a mechanic or a program that offers free car repairs, you may be able to carry out these repairs free of charge through financial support. There could be Local programs This allows people to pay for car repairs, and here are some national resources to check out:
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Temporary support for needy families (Tanf) Sometimes repair support for vehicles offers depending on the current financing and the Enter in which you live.
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Modestneeds.org Offers self -sufficiency grants, including grants for car repairs. There is an application process and the authorization is based on the needs.
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Veteran programs. There are Many financial aid programs Provision of scholarships and loans to military veterans and many include the costs for the automotive repair. Operation Homefront Also offers explicit auto -repair support for veterans.
