Isn’t getting into that new car one of the best feelings?! You got that sweet ride you’ve had your eyes on. You probably just made it through the car dealership gauntlet, which is one of my least favorite experiences. Now, you’re on the road and ready to enjoy your new purchase.
One of the things you’ll want to do now that you have that sweet new ride is understand what the maintenance on your vehicle is going to look like. I know – this is a very adult thing to do. I’m telling you if you plan for it now, it will be much less stressful in the future.
Why it’s beneficial:
- Not getting overcharged for services
- More reliable vehicle = less breakdowns
- Planning now = less stress later
- More miles out of your car
- Retain higher trade-in/resale value
Research Your Car
A little homework here will get you a long way. Do a quick google search on your car to find the scheduled maintenance. This should also be in your car’s manual. CarGurus has a generic one you can utilize but finding one specific to your car can be more helpful.
When you go to your local shop, talk to one of the employees that manage the appointments and quotes. You should be able to get quotes for the different services you’ll need along the way.
Also, do a little research on general issues that your car may encounter along the way. If you’re particularly diligent, you may have done this before buying. If not, find Google and familiarize yourself. This activity is not designed to give you doom and gloom. It’s merely a way for you to inform yourself for the future.
Find a Shop
If you’re loaded and want to throw money at the wall, take your car to the dealership. They’ll be expensive. They’ll oversell you. Not all dealerships are bad, but I haven’t had great experiences with them from a maintenance standpoint – stay tuned.
Talk to your friends and family that live in your area. Do they have a shop they recommend? Hop on Yelp or Google and go through some of the reviews. I also recommend looking for a shop that specializes in your make of vehicle if possible. That knowledge will matter over the long term.
I used to live under a rock and not pay much attention to this type of thing. Then I found a good shop and my world was rocked. No pushiness, no overselling. I found a shop that told it how it was. This not only makes the experience much better but also helps your wallet over the short and long term. If the first one doesn’t work out on your first appointment, shop around (no pun) to find the one that works for you.
Keep Your Records
Keep your records of any maintenance in a folder or in a photo album on your phone, whichever you prefer. This will not only be helpful as you encounter maintenance in the future but will also be an asset if and when you decide to sell your car in the future (this is especially helpful if you do a private sale).
If you’ve had services done at different shops, they don’t communicate with each other. If you don’t keep good records, you might end up paying for the same service twice which is literally like setting money on fire.
Know Your Warranty
I have personally bought two Subarus that sold as “Subaru Certified” meaning that most things dealing with the engine of the vehicle are covered through 7 years or 100,000 miles. I’m essentially paying a little extra when I buy the car for peace of mind down the road.
With my particular vehicle now, it’s come in handy. I’ve had a few minor issues but they’ve would’ve cost me somewhere around $3k so far. I’m not saying everyone should do this, it’s all based on preference. I will tell you how it impacts my maintenance.
When I’ve had issues that, through my research, sound like they should be covered under warranty, I call the dealership where I purchased the car to inquire about the warranty covering the issue I’m having. Typically, the dealer will diagnose the vehicle free of charge and, thus far, I’ve had the work needed covered under the initial warranty that came with the vehicle.
With the warranty provided by the manufacturer, you can technically get this taken care of by any of the dealerships that sell that make of car. I’ve found that using the dealership that you originally purchased the vehicle from will typically yield better results. They want you to buy from them again which incentivizes them to be helpful.
Watch Your Back
Anytime I’ve set foot inside a dealership for service in these situations, they’re also going to come at you for all kinds of maintenance. This is why keeping records of previous maintenance is helpful. They’ll recommend maintenance on things they haven’t even checked.
I recommend taking the report they give on all the things and talking to your local shop about these recommendations. You can also call a different dealership of the same make to talk with one of their service personnel. I’ve done this before for second opinions that have saved me hundreds of dollars. Dealerships are giving dentists a run for their money on my favorite people to deal with.
Start a Fund
Last, but not least, start saving for car maintenance ahead of time. From your research and the amount of expected driving, you should be able to estimate your annual maintenance costs. Putting this money away ahead of time will cause you much less stress in the future. If you want bonus points, you can even pad this fund for any unexpected maintenance that could come up or enough extra dollars to cover your insurance deductible should you get in an accident.
Conclusion
I’m willing to bet that none of you took a car mechanic course in high school or know jack about them now. I know I don’t. The goal is not to become an overnight expert. The goal is to be resourceful to keep from being taken advantage of. A little persistence can get you a long way when it comes to saving those dollars.
Do the work. Get organized. Be your own advocate.
