There is nothing quite like the freedom of owning your own car. You have the ability to travel almost anyplace at any time you choose. But, your car can also stop running at any time, meaning you could be stranded somewhere. The information in this article can get you on the road again quickly.

Make sure you often check the radiator. Run your car for a bit, turn off the engine and then open the hood. You should never open your radiator whenever your car is turned on. Check the amount of fluid in your radiator with your dipstick and remember to mix the coolant with some water.

It is important that you fully understand what all the charges will be upfront, before handing the mechanic your car keys. If a certain cost confuses you, don’t hesitate to clear this up with the mechanic before allowing him or her to make repairs to your vehicle. You don’t want to be surprised by unexpected charges.

Referrals are your best best when searching for a trustworthy mechanic. Can you get a recommendation from a friend or someone that you work with? This gives you the opportunity to find out about costs and the overall quality you can expect. People will let you know if their experiences were good or bad and how honest the auto repair shop was with them.

You should always test drive your vehicle after getting some repairs done on it. This way you can avoid paying for repairs that were not finished correctly. Many people fail to do this and they end up having the same problem that they had before taking the car in to get it repaired.

Be wary of auto technicians who perform unneeded repairs on your vehicle. A trustworthy mechanic should inform you about parts that are becoming worn and will need replacement in the near future, but no parts should be replaced without first getting your approval. If an auto technician performs unnecessary repairs or repairs that were not agreed upon beforehand, don’t return to them for further services.

Ask for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. These are original parts direct from the manufacturer. 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. It may cost you more in the end to use generic parts even though you save money now.

Take all valuable items out of your vehicle before taking it in for repairs. To get the job done, mechanics may have to remove your things and if something should end up missing, they cannot be held responsible. You want to remove items from your trunk also.

Inspect your vehicle to figure out what is wrong before taking it to an auto shop. When you self-diagnose, you avoid fraud and save money. Mechanics sometimes will cost you an arm and a leg for unnecessary repairs.

A temporary car problem doesn’t have to lead to massive repair bills. Quite often you can repair your car yourself. Put these tips to use to get your car diagnosed accurately and fixed.