How many auto repairs per year

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By Jeff S. Updated April 8, More on Car Ownership. CR's Car Repair Assistant. More From Consumer Reports. After all, new cars are expensive. They also depreciate an average of 45 percent over the first three years of ownership -- between In the next section, we'll look at why preventative maintenance saves you money in the long run. We'll also explore why, if your car is more broken-in than broken-down, it's probably cheaper to keep her around a little while longer.

In fact, by some estimates, every five years you drive your car after paying it off saves you the monetary equivalent of a new car.

To understand how, let's compare a new car to a paid-off car with standard maintenance. To make it interesting, let's stack the deck in the new car's favor by saying that you drive 24, miles 38, kilometers per year, which is double the national average. In five years, that adds up to , miles , kilometers under your wheels, which translates to 35 to 40 oil changes.

Now let's compare that to a new car. Federal Trade Commission ]. In other words, for the cost of owning a new car for one year, you could own a paid-off car for five years, drive it into the ground, and still have money left over for tolls. According to Consumer Reports, the average life expectancy of a new vehicle is around eight years or , miles [source: Weisbaum ].

A well-maintained car also means a safer trip for you and your loved ones. And who can put a price on that? For more information about preventative auto maintenance and other related topics, follow the links on the next page. Your personal driving habits will also impact these repairs. If you tend to stop suddenly, tailgate, or ride your brakes while driving, you will need to replace your brake pads sooner than a driver who is in the habit of leaving more distance and braking gradually.

There will be a few signs when you need to repair your brake pads. First, your car may make a screeching sound when you apply the brakes.

If your tire treads reach that depth, you should get them replaced. Keeping your tires properly inflated can increase your tires' lifespan by thousands of miles.

Tire rotation is another important maintenance item. You should also keep in mind that you'll need to perform tire balancing and alignment on your vehicle every so often to maximize the life of your tires. When considering the cost of the necessary maintenance for your car, you may be wondering how you can safely cut corners.

The good news is that there are several ways to save money on car expenses. Shop around for the best rates on these routine maintenance items, and keep an eye out for coupons.

For example, you can change the oil and oil filter in your car at home to cut some of the costs associated with this routine maintenance item. Whatever you do, remember to add the average car maintenance cost to your annual budget to help you prepare and save. Your maintenance schedule depends on how much you drive, how you drive, conditions in your area, and your manufacturer's recommendations.

Review your owner's manual for all recommended maintenance intervals and plan your visits to the mechanic or your own garage accordingly.

Vehicle maintenance is important because it prevents larger problems, bigger repairs, and even dangerous issues down the road. For instance, neglecting oil changes can cause major engine problems, and worn-out tires or brakes are a major safety hazard. Thanks for everything, you guys rock! I had great service from these guys. My truck was having transmission problems. Transmission can be confusing, but these guys were honest, fast, and the owner is very friendly. The price was right were it needed to be for the work they did, and my truck is running great now.

I would definitely go back there for any transmission problems. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.