Most likely, you’re not the expert you wish you were when it comes to auto repair. Since this is the case, you should properly educate yourself on this subject so you can do some of the minor maintenance that your car may need. Continue reading to find some great tips for helping you take care of this.

Don’t take an emergency car kit for granted. You ought to assemble a kit consisting of tire change tools, battery charger and a gas can. Add some blankets, a flashlight and some batteries in case your car breaks down at night.

Keep your car clean to prevent rust. Rust is an inevitability, but you can stave it off for a good while. Use a decent wax for protecting paint jobs as much as you can.

Make sure all repair records are kept close. Keep these records in the glove compartment in the event that you need to make an emergency stop at your mechanic’s shop. The people repairing your automobile are going to need to look over these records. They can help them diagnose the issue a lot quicker.

Every time you’re going to have an automobile repaired, you have to get a record of what is done to it. These past invoices can help the mechanic to diagnose your car if need be. You might end up paying more if you don’t have them, because it will be more difficult to diagnose the issue.

Do an online search of reviews about your local automotive repair shop. This lets you know how other customers have felt. This will help you to weed out garages that could leave you with concerns over quality and workmanship.

OEM parts should be asked for. This means that you are getting manufacturer made parts and not replicas. 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. What is a cheap option now could be an expensive option later.

You can save yourself a great deal of money by repairing your burnt out head or tail lights yourself. It’s easier to do in some cars, but it’s more cost effective than hiring a mechanic. Ask a friend if they’ll help you learn how its done.

Do not hand the keys over until you have talked both price and the rates for labor. Read all of the small print on any contract you sign, and ask for answers to any questions you may have. Make sure that you know exactly how you are going to be billed. Some stores are able to give you an estimate for how long they’ll keep your car. Other shops may charge an inflated rate for a minor repair that should be done within a shorter period of time.

Make sure that you remind yourself of how often your oil needs to be changed. In order for your vehicle to run as well as possible, you need to have the oil changed regularly. Not getting an oil change will only shorten the life of your vehicle, so make sure that you set some type of reminder.

Don’t put off washing your vehicle during the winter time. Winter is actually the season when your car’s exterior gets the most damage. Sand and salt is something that can cause rust and abrasions. Best be sure to dry your car before driving so that you won’t let any ice form on your car.

Find technicians to do your auto repair tasks instead of your dealer. There are many great technicians all over the place. You need to use a mechanic that you feel completely comfortable with.

Understand the risks involved with DIY auto repairs. Be sure someone is watching you repair the vehicle just in case something bad happens. Buy some good quality tools that will last. This is very important for the tools that you use to change your tires. Keep in mind that a jack needs to securely hold up your vehicle, especially if you’re going to be under it. That’s why sometimes it’s best to get a hydraulic jack that comes with jack stands that are approved.

When a problem is big, don’t self-diagnose it. Remember, you’re not a professional. What may seem to be a simple task can be very complex, especially in the newer electric cars and also the newer computerized vehicles. Let a repair shop do the diagnosing. Give them as much information as possible, but in the end, let them perform the diagnosis.

Make sure that you do not get pressured into extra repairs by body shops. This is done so they can profit from your ignorance. Prior to entering, mark your tires with chalk. If you find the chalk is missing later on, question the shop about what happened.

Original Equipment Manufacturer

OEM also known as original equipment manufacturer. Remember this if you need to have parts replaced. If you specify that you want original equipment manufacturer parts, the mechanic will think you know what you’re talking about. This will make it less likely that the mechanic will attempt to install parts that have been previously used.

Once you have paid a mechanic for replacing a part of your vehicle, ask him or her if you can keep the old part. If he won’t do it, he probably never replaced the parts he said he did. Ask your mechanic for an explanation if you notice this red flag.

You should have more knowledge now with the information from this article. This means that the next time you have some kind of a problem, you’ll be able to get it fixed quickly. That, or you can locate someone else that can. Your car should always run properly.