Your vehicle is one of the most expensive purchases you can make, especially if you do not know much about it. You should familiarize yourself with your vehicle, and learn certain tricks that can help you with it. Keep reading to find out how you can save time and money down the road.

When you are at the auto shop, ask a lot of questions concerning your car. Your questions should focus on the problems your car has and also what steps you can take to prevent this problem from occurring in the future. Preventing car problems is a great, money-saving skill to have.

Ask mechanics if they have worked on your particular make and model of car before contracting with them. If the answer is yes, that’s a very good thing.

Ask for referrals to find a great mechanic. Talk to your relatives, friends and co-workers to get some recommendations. You can inquire about price, work quality and overall satisfaction. People will tell you about the mechanic’s honesty and if their experience was a good one.

Look up your local body shop’s reviews online. These reviews will inform you of the company’s quality, customer service satisfaction rates, etc. Use this information to choose a good shop.

Do not let mechanics do repairs that are not warranted on your car. Work should never be performed without your permission, but a good mechanic may point out upcoming repairs that are necessary. If a mechanic performed a repair you did not authorize, you should not take your vehicle to them twice.

Make sure you are receiving OEM parts. These parts are issued by the manufacturer of your vehicle. Although generic parts are more affordable, OEM parts are better quality and will last longer. 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.

Do you know the signs of a low quality mechanic? If you have trouble getting a straight answer out of them, (or if, even worse, they refuse to answer questions to your satisfaction) they probably aren’t the kind of people you want to work with. You should feel like you can trust them, so don’t fear seeing someone else.

Think about locating a person that fixes vehicles and owns a garage. If they possess sufficient experience, they can typically do jobs for far less cost. Next time your car is in need of repairs, ask around for referrals for an unlicensed but fabulous mechanic.

Just because the days are colder doesn’t mean you should avoid washing your vehicle. Winter can ruin the quality of your car with constant precipitation. Rust and abrasion can occur from the particles flying around in the air. Take care to dry your vehicle before driving it again. You wouldn’t want ice to form.

As discussed above, learning a few things about auto repair can help you fix small problems yourself and save a lot of money. Besides being able to teach others and rely on yourself when you have car trouble, you can save lots of money. This article has the tips you need; just utilize them to your benefit.