If you own a car, you know how annoying car troubles are. This requires spending a lot of money on visiting a mechanic, or spending a lot of time in doing repairs on your own. There are downsides to each method, but auto repair will be a better experience after reading this article.

Always ask lots of questions at the shop where you are getting your car repaired. What will they do to fix it? What is the problem? Preventing automotive issues is a valuable skill to save money during the year.

Know what your costs will be before handing your keys over to the mechanic. You want to make sure that you understand each and every charge, and if you do not then you need to clarify and ask questions before any work is done. You don’t want any unpleasant surprises when you get your bill.

Keep a record of any vehicle repairs. Having detailed records will be useful if you need to perform more repairs on your vehicle. Your car problems may be harder to find and you may have higher repair costs without the records.

Before paying for repairs done on your car, test drive it to make sure it runs well. A lot of people don’t try to drive their car first and they figure out the hard way that it wasn’t repaired later on.

Ask for parts that are classified as OEM parts. This means that you are getting manufacturer made parts and not replicas. Generic parts may cost less, but you cannot really tell if they are the best quality. Although you save money in the short term with generic parts, its not really a deal if they have to be replaced again in a few years.

Keep a DIY tool kit in your trunk. You will want to have the tools necessary to change a tire, and they likely came with the vehicle. If you don’t have a jack and lug wrench, get one. You should probably get a few screwdrivers with various shapes as well as different wrenches like for this kit. Don’t buy inexpensive tools. Invest in high-quality tools that you will own forever.

Keep an eye on the lights located on the dash, and make sure you are aware of what they all mean. They are there to help you, so take advantage of that. Whatever problem they are indicating will only get worse the longer you ignore it.

Check tire pressure each time you fill your tank. Inspect your tires and look for embedded rocks or small objects. In the event that you detect a problem, you can have it repaired before you have a blowout. It’s dangerous to drive on faulty tires.

It may be a good idea to fully photograph your car internally and externally prior to taking it in for repairs. Some shops strip vehicles and resell the newer parts. You should make sure you keep track of the way your vehicle is looking just in case something like this were to happen.

It’s important that car parts come with warranties. A mechanic should be asked about if they know whether or not there’s a warranty on any of the parts they’re going to order. Inquire as to how long it is for and also ask for a hard copy of the contract for your review.

Repairing your vehicle is usually stressful, but you can reduce the stress with this basic approach. The advice contained in this article can help you have a better experience. Your car will thank you.