Routine Car Maintenance Will Save You Money

Ever heard the saying “it takes money to make money?”  Well, sometimes it takes money to save money.  Once you get past the first 50,000 miles or so and progress past the initial new-car period where all you need is the periodic oil change/tire rotation, car maintenance can really start to add up.

Just this weekend, I took my car in for its scheduled 60,000 maintenance and it cost approximately $260!  Luckily, everything checkout fine and while I thought that was a bit pricey for what amounted to an oil change, tire rotation, and tightening a few loose belts, imagine the money I would have saved had they caught something serious early on.

Regular Maintenance Will Save You Money

Probably the best advice any car owner could receive is to stay on top of your vehicle’s manufacturer-recommended maintenance.  Your car’s user manual contains a detailed maintenance schedule which unfortunately, most drivers will ignore.  Despite all the raging debate about car quality out there, one thing is for sure:  practically any make and model of automobile (with a few exceptions) will be reasonably reliable for a reasonable period of time if you just follow the recommended maintenance guide.  Even the crappiest of automobiles can be surprisingly durable if you keep on top of things.  There are three primary ways regular car maintenance can save you money.

1. It Will Last Longer – This one probably goes without saying:  the better maintained your vehicle is, the longer it will last, all else being equal.  The cost savings of driving a $30,000 car 8 years instead of 6 years is over $2,500, and that doesn’t even include finance costs if you don’t pay cash.
2. Fewer Serious Repairs – Changing a worn-out brake pad before you progress to the metal-on-metal stage is much cheaper than replacing your entire brake system.  Similarly, fixing a leaking radiator is going to be a lot less expensive than replacing a burnt-out engine.  An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure in this case.
3. Higher Resale Value – Cars with meticulously-documented maintenance records are quite simply worth more on the used car market.  Think about it:  would you rather buy a used car from a guy who fanatically changed the oil ever 5,000 miles or a guy who couldn’t remember the last time the tires were rotated?  All else equal, the guy with the maintenance records probably took better car of his car than the other guy.  Used car buyers are always wary of unknowns, so chances are you’re going to be able to get a lot more for your old clunker if you can prove it was well-maintained.  If you can’t prove it, well, why would anybody take your word for it?