How To Save Money With Affordable Car Repairs

It shouldn’t cost $64 to change a lightbulb.

Yet that was the quote they gave me when I took my 10-year-old Volkswagen Golf to the dealership for service. Along with another $4,824.56 in repairs of varying urgency. I met this estimate with cool and queenly disdain, declined the repairs, and left with an oil change on the house. (They knew what they did)

Because I know I can get my car repaired for cheaper! Like… way cheaper! All it requires is a little time, elbow grease, and good sense.

What some dealerships and mechanics charge for car repairs is, frankly, obscene. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Today I’m going to talk about my recent experience with the service department of a car dealership and explain, step by step, how I went on to pay significantly less for car repairs outside the dealership… and how you can too.

Gird you loins, people. It’s about to get reeeeeeal fuckin’ spiteful up in here.

The expensive world of car dealership service departments

My car very helpfully tells me when various lightbulbs are out… and it won’t stop telling me until they’re replaced.

Car: “Ding! One of the two little bulbs above your license plate is out!”

Me: “Thanks, I’ll take care of that later.”

Car: “Ding! That bulb is still out!”

Me: “Yeah I know. But as the other bulb is still lit, and my plate is fully visible, I don’t consider this an urgent problem.”

Car: “Ding! The bulb! The bulb is burned out!!!!”

Me: “Heard. Now please stop dinging at me every 15 minutes.”

Car: “Ding! No can do, Bitch! Turning off my little dinging reminders is proprietary corporate information you won’t find anywhere in the manual! My whole purpose is to annoy you into spending money!”

Me: “I’m driving off this cliff now.”

So that was fun.

Because I had two other minor, parts-related repairs, I scheduled service at my local VW dealership. With foreign-made cars (i.e., German, Japanese, or Korean), sometimes it can take a long time to ship spare parts to a mechanic. But a dealership typically has these parts on hand. So I figured, why not see if the parts were in stock and the fixes would be quick and easy?

I’d forgotten that in the 3-way Venn diagram of Good, Fast, and Cheap, you may only choose two options.

The dealership tax

Dropping my car off with the dealership was easy! They were so nice! They even paid Lyft to take me home while I waited. And they definitely had all the parts I needed on hand! All of which was meant to lull me into a false sense of security so they could ROB ME BLIND.

Car dealerships make a significant profit margin through their service departments. They’re not just providing car repairs at cost plus labor. They are…

• marking up spare parts by as much as 4x to increase their profit margin
• recommending repairs well before they’re actually necessary
• recommending repairs that aren’t actually necessary, but nice to have
• informing you of proprietary systems in need of repairs that can only happen at the dealership
• trying to convince you, through sticker shock, to trade in your busted vehicle for a new one

My car is 10 years old. I paid $14,000 for it and I own it outright. I work from home and shop locally, so aside from weekend trips to frolic in the outdoors, it doesn’t get used super often. No one but me is profiting off of it remaining in good working order.

The dealership probably saw me as the perfect candidate for a new car. They probably assumed that if they played their cards right, they could convince me my car wasn’t worth repairing and I should instead buy a whole new vehicle from them. And to be fair… this tactic works sometimes! Often enough to make it worth trying!

The only two uses for dealerships

Am I being mildly unfair? Yep! Do I care? Nope! I was handed a $4,000+ bill for car repairs I could get done for significantly cheaper elsewhere. I’m allowed to be fucking salty about it!

When it comes to car repairs, I only have two uses for a dealership.

The first is for getting a maximum estimate I can take to another mechanic. In this case, the dealership gave me a whole diagnostic list of stuff to fix on my car, and it ranged from the urgent (my trunk won’t latch) to the preventative (I need to change the filters and my shocks are kinda squeaky) to the routine (it’s time to replace my spark plugs) to the absolutely unnecessary (the fucking $64 lightbulb above the license plate).

Now that I have this diagnostic list, I can take my time shopping for second opinions and affordable options for car repairs. So thanks, VW dealership! I trust you’ll make up for the loss of my business by price-gouging another customer!

The second use for a dealership is one I hate to admit, but honesty and ethics in gaming journalism compel me.

Some foreign-manufactured cars have proprietary systems in place that prevent non-dealership mechanics from performing car repairs. For example: my neighborhood Jiffy Lube would love to do a transmission fluid exchange on my VW… but they can’t. Because of the proprietary transmission system. So for that particular repair, I have to go to the dealership (more on that in a minute).

With my dealership gripes out of the way, let’s move on to how to actually get affordable car repairs!

Step 1: Find an independent mechanic you trust

I used to have an independent auto shop I absolutely adored. It was called Bob & Ted’s, and the eponymous Bob and Ted were two old, grizzled mechanics with Santa beards whose office was filled with photos from one of their grandsons’ sports games. They were adorable. They were the only men in the entire world allowed to call me “sweetheart.”

And I allowed it because they were honest and straightforward. More often than not they taught me how to diagnose a problem myself, and regularly sent me to the shop to buy a part on my own instead of waiting for them to order it.

But sadly (for me), Bob and Ted retired. It took a few years, but now thanks to extensive research and the recommendations of trusted friends, I have two new trusted mechanics.

Choosing a mechanic

According to Consumer Reports, one of the best way to choose a reliable mechanic is to use one approved by AAA (the American Automobile Association). They have a list of “approved repair facilities, which are required to have certified technicians. Furthermore, AAA offers a 10 percent discount on labor (capped at $75 in some areas).” That’s worth it for the discount alone if you’re a AAA member.

Personally, I relied on recommendations from friends, especially the Car Guy I know. But you can also use sites like Angi and Yelp to read reviews and make sure you won’t get taken for a ride (pun intended). Yelp even allows you to filter your search to help you find woman-owned businesses. And I trust I don’t have to tell you why that’s a real nice feature!

Step 2: Get multiple opinions

I hate to compare human beings to vehicles, but… if a doctor diagnosed you with terminal cancer, you’d absolutely get a second opinion just to be sure before putting your affairs in order! Thus also with auto mechanics.

I have two separate trusted mechanics for this very reason. Plus, they’re both honest enough to tell me when something is not in their wheelhouse. (Is this… a car metaphor?? I honestly don’t know what a wheelhouse is. If you know, please leave a comment below or write in to betterknowametaphor@bitchesgetriches.com.)

The habit of asking for a second opinion once saved me over $400 on a new hydrospanner, which Mechanic A thought was desperately needed. Mechanic B, however, figured out that my existing hydrospanner just needed a thorough cleaning—which was a time-consuming process, but way more affordable than a replacement hydrospanner.*

*By now you should understand that my knowledge of automobile engineering is… limited. I could absolutely look up the name of the part that makes the car’s heater function. But quoting Star Wars makes me sound fun and relatable!

Step 3: Learn the difference between routine maintenance and major repairs

There are entire businesses built around routine automobile maintenance. We will call them The Routines (they’re like The Supremes, but much easier to book for your 60th wedding anniversary). These are your Jiffy Lubes, your Midases, your Take 5s… all of these places will let you drive in without an appointment, hang out for 30 minutes or less, and drive out with a few basic maintenance items taken care of before they become a problem. These include:

• Changing the oil
• Changing the filters
• Rotating the tires
• Topping off the various fluids
• Servicing the brakes
• Replacing the spark plugs

For example, the dealership wanted to charge me $507 for a transmission fluid exchange. My local Jiffy Lube charges $125 to $250 for the same service. Thats a savings of at least 50%!

So learn the difference between a major repair and routine maintenance. And don’t bother the dealership or an independent mechanic with something you can get done at one of The Routines.

Here’s some more of our Very Important Opinions on cars and travel:

• Understand the Hidden Costs of Travel and Avoid Them Like the Plague 
• How To Maintain Your Car When You’re Barely Driving It
• Buying a Car with the Bitches, Part 1: How to Choose Your Car
• Buying a Car with the Bitches, Part 2: How to Pay for Your Car
• The Joys of Getting Around Without a Damn Car
• Dafuq Is Insurance and Why Do You Even Need It?

Step 4: Always look for coupons

Before you go in for an oil change or any other routine maintenance, there is one very important step you must take. This step will save you a trunkload of money (car pun).

Our’s is not to question why, but for some reason the car repairs business model runs on a constant rotation of coupons. I have never paid full price for an oil change or a fluid top-off in my life because a simple online search for “Jiffy Lube coupon” always always always yields results.

Gather all the coupons you can find before you go in for car repairs. There is literally no reason to pay full price when these coupons are freely available online within seconds.

The power of patience

A week after I got that barf-inducingly high estimate from the Volkswagen dealership, they sent me a coupon. “20% off any previously declined service,” it read. Then a few days before that bad boy expired, they sent me another coupon with a later expiration date.

Guys. They really want my business.

It’s galling to think that they could just as easily repair my trunk latch for $700 as for the $875 they originally quoted me. And yet, I’m not kicking that 20% discount out of bed! All I had to do to earn it was walk away and leave them wanting more.

Step 5: Shop for parts yourself

Just as there’s an entire industry built around routine maintenance, there’s also an entire industry for wholesale car parts. Personally, I’m tight with my local O’Reilly Auto Parts, but stores like AutoZone and Pep Boys are just as good. I go in, tell them the make and model of my car and what’s broken, and they sell me a replacement part… for a fraction of the cost of what the dealership charges.

Remember that $64 lightbulb the dealership wanted to sell me? A pack of two is $6.99 at O’Reilly.

I’ve changed filters, batteries, bulbs, windshield wipers, and tires all on my own after buying the parts myself. And often, if you dial your Model Customer level up to 11, the employees will help you install the parts yourself. (No worries if they don’t, though; I’ve got advice for that below.)

The junkyard

If you’re particularly ambitious for a good deal, you can bypass the auto parts wholesaler entirely and go straight to the junkyard to find parts in otherwise wrecked vehicles.

Reddit user doitroygsbre put it this way: “Once you’re confident on how much you’ll be spending to fix it, try to knock the cost down. Junk yards and used parts stores can be a great way to save some cash. If pulling parts from a junk yard sounds like too much work, you can usually find people in the yard willing to pull parts for a fee. Quick example: I needed a new engine. I could have paid roughly $3,300 for a new one, $900 for one from a used parts store, or $260 at the junk yard (+ $60 to have someone pull it).”

I haven’t personally tested this method, but it’s only a matter of time before I’m bored and/or available enough to give it a go!

Step 6: Learn what you can (and can’t) repair yourself

The entirety of this section could just be “subscribe to Jessicann on YouTube.” Jessica Chou is my gold standard for learning DIY car maintenance (and not just because she also owns a VW). I’ve learned 90% of my DIY car repairs from her channel, and I find her as accessible and welcoming as she is savvy and knowledgeable!

But the best thing I’ve learned from Jessica Chou is just how many repairs you can do yourself. Even outside of Jessicann’s channel, the internet is a wealth of repair tips and tricks you won’t find in your car’s manual.

For example, under “how to change a headlight” in my car’s manual, it just says “Take it to the dealership.” Which is bullshit, because a YouTuber showed me exactly how I can do that shit myself, and my friendly neighborhood O’Reilly provided me with the part for a fraction of the cost of taking it to the dealership.

It’s almost as if the insidious DeAlErShIp InDuStRiAl CoMpLeX doesn’t want us to know we don’t need them for some of this stuff! [huffs in righteous indignation and also an inflated sense of competency]

DIYer beware

All that said… I must warn you not to get too ambitious with DIY repairs, just for safety’s sake.

We don’t want your obituary to read, “crushed to death under a medium-ugly sedan at advice of idiot on the internet” or “electrocuted by a medium-ugly sedan at advice of idiot on the internet” or even “drove over cliff in a medium-ugly sedan with faulty brakes at advice of idiot on the internet.” I AM THE IDIOT ON THE INTERNET. DO NOT PUT YOUR LIFE IN MY HANDS.

In other words: Know your limitations, get the proper tools, and be not ashamed to seek help. We wrote more about that here: When Should You Release Your Death Grip on Your Precious Money and Hire a Professional?

Step 7: Help train the next generation

Mechanics don’t just grow on trees. Nor do they spring, fully formed, from the head of Zeus like Athena herself! Though this incredible photography series by Freddy Fabris leads me to believe they’re at least a little godlike:

Anyway the point is that auto mechanics have to come from somewhere, and that place is a trade school, community college, or high school with an auto shop. And those schools are all in need of vehicles for students to practice on.

Your vehicle could teach the next generation of mechanics how to repair a busted astromech socket or flux capacitor! And they won’t charge you anywhere near full-price. You’ll have to pay for parts, of course, but otherwise the service is free or steeply discounted. And the trainees will do quality work under the supervision of their teachers, who will check to make sure it’s done right. Even so, in exchange for cheap service you’ll generally need to sign a waiver.

I haven’t tried this method myself… YET. But it didn’t take me long to find a community college and a technical school in my city that will indeed train their students with my car repairs.

Step 8: Make an insurance claim

In most places, car insurance is a requirement of car ownership. So take advantage of your insurance to make your car repairs more affordable!

If something breaks—like really breaks, not just wears out due to routine use—file an insurance claim to see if your car insurance will pay to fix it. The worst that can happen is you waste a little time and they still say no.

Your insurance might require you to use one of their approved mechanics to get the repairs done. So this might mean cheating on your beloved and trusty mechanic or traveling a little out of the way to get the car repairs. So decide for yourself how much that’s worth to you if insurance approves your claim.

Even if they don’t accept your claim, your insurance might still offer discounts, according to Bankrate. But those discounts still might be restricted to your insurance provider’s preferred shop.

I’ve never paid more than my insurance deductible for a replacement windshield thanks to my car insurance. And neither should you.

Step 9: Ask for a discount

When all else fails… plead poverty. Consumer Reports says,

“Ask your shop for a discount. You may be able to get a lower price just by asking for coupons and straight-up discounts. Plead your case. Tell them the repair is expensive for you, says Mike Crossen, a CR mechanic. According to CR’s repair shop survey, independent shops and some chains were rated highly for their discounts. Independent shops also received favorable scores for their willingness to negotiate, while the dealerships we were able to rate received dismal scores.”

People can still surprise you—whether they’re the owner of a small family business or the service department rep at a major dealership. We all understand just how hard it is out there right now. Being clear and honest about your financial situation will give a mechanic the chance to cut you a deal, even if it’s just a reasonable payment plan.

Let’s learn and grow together

As I finish this article, my hands are stained with engine soot. I’m thrilled to announce that after watching Jessicann’s video, I was able to successfully change my spark plugs myself! They cost me $79.62 at O’Reilly plus an hour of my time, while the dealership wanted to charge me $272.88 to replace them.

I am by no means a Car Guy, but I am frugal as fuck. And the more I learn about car ownership, the more convinced I am that dealership repairs are a racket. So let’s learn and grow together! Do you have a tip for finding affordable car repairs? Share your wisdom with a comment!