Your car is an expensive investment and taking care of it will save you money over the long haul. You should familiarize yourself with your vehicle, and learn certain tricks that can help you with it. Keep reading to save money and time on auto repairs.

Keep an eye on your radiator levels. Allow your car to run for just a few minutes, then shut off the engine, and open up the hood. Never open your radiator if your vehicle is running. Check radiator fluid by using a dipstick and remember to dilute coolant with water prior to adding it.

Referrals are your best best when searching for a trustworthy mechanic. See if co-workers, friends, neighbors, or family members have any recommendations. Ask about how much they paid, the quality of the repairs and the customer service. They will be the first to tell you about a dishonest mechanic too!

Check online reviews for any mechanic you’re considering. This will tell you everything you need to know about the shop. After gathering information, you can select the right shop for you.

Before dropping your car off for repairs, remove any valuables. To get the job done, mechanics may have to remove your things and if something should end up missing, they cannot be held responsible. Remove all items from the trunk too.

If your headlights don’t seem very bright, check them to see if they are clean. The roads you drive on sometimes contain greasy residues, which can get on your lights. Therefore, this will reduce the brightness of your lights. You will be able to see well when using a reliable glass cleaner.

Before you bring your car to a repair shop, try to determine what is wrong with your car. A bit of money can be saved in this way, and you may stay away from fraudulent people. You probably already know that certain mechanics will come with lies to charge more money.

Quality Tools

You should have a do-it-yourself repair kit in your car at all times. Basic tools that should be included are tire changing tools. Make sure you have a wrench that can loosen the lug nuts on your tires. A few good screwdrivers, wrenches and a socket wrench can also come in handy for any unexpected road-side issues. Always purchase quality tools. Invest in quality tools that don’t break in the middle of a critical repair.

Ask about prices and labor rates before you give your keys to a mechanic. Not all shops will be upfront about their prices, so ask anyone available for this information. You must be able to tell how the repairs are being billed to you. Some mechanics bill you for estimated labor times established by the manufacturers they work with. Other shops may charge an inflated rate for a minor repair that should be done within a shorter period of time.

As said previously, learning the fundamentals of auto repair will benefit you later on. You can teach other people how to do repairs and rely on your own expertise. Keep this advice in mind the next time you think you may be able to attend to a few basic repairs yourself.