Car owners up and down the country have trouble with paying mechanic bills. It’s good to get your car seen to as soon as you’re aware there’s a problem, but often in doing so, the cost of repair turns out far heftier than you first imagined. It really is an age-old problem, and it’s one that can really get on top of your finances.

If that’s an issue that’s starting to become prevalent in your life, it’s only natural to search out ways to slash these price tags in half. Car ownership is an expensive thing, even with all the convenience it brings! Looking into ways to keep your vehicle going for less is often essential. And if that sounds like the kind of quest you’re on right now, you’ve come to the right place.
While you’re unlikely to be a trained mechanic yourself, and it’s always best to visit one when you’re unsure over the safety of using your car, tips like these can make your autoshop trips way less common and far cheaper over time.
Always Refer to Your Owner’s Manual
The owner’s manual will let you know the ins and outs of taking care of your specific car model. That makes it the first thing to check, always and ever. However, you won’t find everything you need to know about keeping a car healthy for as long as possible in there.
It’s the best starting point, and will let you know the parts of your car that are most likely to have an issue, intervals you need to be aware of, best driving practices, etc., but you will still need to follow general maintenance tips that keep any and all vehicles on their best legs.
Keep Your Fluids Topped Up
Fluid levels in the car will slowly dip over time, as you well know. However, when it comes to replacing these fluids, such as your engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and your wiper fluid, you need to know the right intervals off hand. Check the manual first and see what it says.
Take brake fluid as a good example here. Most manuals say to change this every two to three years, but some people will change once a year, or every five years, if their car lasts that long. In best practice, topping up and/or changing fluids at the shortest intervals will keep your car going for longer.
Treat Problems ASAP
If there’s something wrong with your car, get it fixed as soon as you can. The longer a problem sits and waits to be repaired, the more damage is done, and the more expensive the repair will be. Don’t wait around!
Even very minor issues can blow out of proportion, and when it comes to automobiles, there rarely is a thing like a truly minor issue! Something deeper is usually at play, and figuring out what’s going on ‘behind the scenes’ and fixing it will always be in your best financial interest.
Try Your Own Repairs
This won’t always be possible, but sometimes a car repair is minor enough for the owner themself to fix at home. You can do this by looking up tutorials that show you what to do and what needs replacing, and then you can head online to find the right part.
Whether you need to buy something from the full exhaust systems catalogue or you just need to change a tyre or the wheel cap, you should be able to source it yourself. Once again, it’s best to use your owner’s manual to find the specifications you need to follow and match them exactly to anything you purchase.
In doing so, you save on the repair fee that often hikes up the price at the repair shop, but you also may find a better deal on the essential part than what the mechanic would present you with.
Keep it Clean Inside and Out
A clean car is more likely to stand the test of time, both inside and out. The outside will need a bit more care than the internals, seeing as that goes through all the grime, mud, weather, and rusting, but you don’t want a dirty car cockpit to sit in either!
Make sure you clean your car on a regular basis, usually once a month. Take it through a car wash if you have no time to clean by hand, but usually just a bit of soap and water while it’s sitting in the driveway will be just fine. If you spot paint flakes or rust patches, be sure to deal with them too.

Vary Your Drive Lengths
A car that only goes a certain distance every time you turn the engine over won’t last very long. Think of the engine as a kind of muscle, in which the only way to keep it healthy is to use it properly. As such, you need to let the system ‘stretch its legs’ on drives that vary in length.
For example, if you’re mainly using the car to get around town, or ferry the kids to and from school, or simply to go to work and back five times a week, you’ll need to take the car out for longer spins every now and then.
Twice a month would be good, and the daytrip you get out of the experience will be just as enjoyable too.
Keep Your Car Running Costs Low
Yes, it is possible to maintain your vehicle and keep it in the prime of its life. Cars don’t last forever, and you’re going to need a professional to look it over every now and then, but there’s a lot you can do in the meantime.
Get to grips with auto DIY, always have your driver’s manual handy, and make sure you perform routine maintenance checks on your fluid levels, oil, and tyres. Really, the more time you put into little checks like these, the longer your vehicle will be on the road.
Updated: February 3, 2025 by Michael Kahn