Most car owners haven’t been happy with their garage bills so far, and in many cases they have even been nasty surprises. New cars have a lot of high-tech features, so there aren’t many options for people who like to work on cars in their garages. So, you usually have to go to the workshop, and you usually need original parts. All cars, even old ones, have to go to the shop at least once every three years for repairs or maintenance, for example.
If there are problems with a new car, it must go to an authorized workshop because there is a legal responsibility for material defects or the manufacturer’s warranty. You can only get repairs done at workshops that work on the same brand of vehicle or at the seller. Of course, independent workshops are usually cheaper because they use cheaper spare parts.
How to save money when you go to a workshop
If you buy the engine oil yourself, for instance, you can save almost half of the workshop price. The most important thing is that the goods also meet the manufacturer’s requirements. For example, if you only need sheet metal parts, you can also go to a scrap yard or a car recycling center. They don’t just sell scrap metal. There are a lot of parts that are much cheaper than what most garages can afford. If you’re looking for hard-to-find vintage parts or oddities, you can also find special websites for them on the Internet.
It’s better to buy new parts for things like windshield wipers, brake pads, or brake discs, though. Brakes and steering are just as important as other parts that affect safety. Of course, no one should put themselves in danger just to save a few euros. If parts are fixed instead of replaced, you can save up to 80% of the workshop cost. Some companies are experts at fixing the parts. For instance, starters or alternators are among these. Replacement parts are often parts that well-known companies have already fixed and made new again. You can often save between 30 and 40 percent compared to buying new parts.
But you should stay away from very cheap parts because you usually end up buying them twice. If parts are advertised as original parts and are then up to 70% cheaper, it usually doesn’t make sense. There shouldn’t be any bad surprises if you buy from a well-known and trusted parts dealer.
What should you think about before going to the workshop?
Of course, anyone can buy different parts for less money. It is important to remember that many workshops cannot be forced to install parts that are not already there. If you buy the parts yourself and the workshop installs them, it is not responsible for how well they work or how good they are. In the end, the workshop is only responsible for doing the work right.
But with all the parts working, cars can often be put back on the road quickly, cheaply, and reliably. When an employee goes to the workshop, they should first check out the car on the lifting platform. Many car owners also get cheap parts from local suppliers or wreckers.
You should also talk about everything that needs to be fixed ahead of time and get an estimate of how much it will cost. Experts can also check an invoice at the end. You can often check workshop invoices with different companies, and there are usually master car mechanics working here. The experts can make sure that workshop costs are cut by up to a third, and they can also get parts from reliable suppliers like WA Auto Parts.