Let’s face the fact: It’s luxurious to preserve a vehicle and keep it in good working order. Especially in recessionary times like these, car repairs can truly sham a burden. The following tips can help you avoid spend too much money if and when your car breaks down.

1. READ OWNER’S MANUAL.

- At times the problem you’re facing really may be something simple that you can fix yourself. At the very least, the manual will remind you about scheduled maintenance that you shouldn’t ignore. As enticing as it can be to put such maintenance off to save money, try hard to attach to the manufacturer’s suggested service schedule outlined in the owner’s manual. Your car will thank you for it and ultimately reward you by requiring fewer costly repairs.

2. HUNT DOWN GOOD MECHANIC.

- Start shopping for a repair shop before you need one in a crisis. Ask friends for recommendations. Look for a mechanic who is certified by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

3. COMMUNICATE VERY WELL.

- When your vehicle acts up, describe the problem exactly and accurately. Bring a written list of symptoms to the shop and make sure the technician or service manager writes down everything you want checked.

4. GET MORE THAN ONE ESTIMATE.

- Take good notes when the first place you visit tells you what kind of repairs you need and how much those repairs will rate. Quickly call three or four other shops and ask how much they would charge for the same work. Try a variety of businesses, including independent shops, chain outlets and dealerships. Definitely get a second opinion if the first place recommends major repairs.

5. ARRANGE ALTERNATE TRASPORTATION.

- This way you won’t feel forced to choose a repair shop solely because of its location.

6. MAKE SIGNOFF A REQUIREMENT.

- When you drop your car off at a shop to have anything checked out, specify that you would like to receive a phone call with a cost estimate before any work begins.

7. CHECK STORE’S REPUTATION AND HISTORY OF COMPLAINS.

- Once you’ve zeroed in on a shop, take a few minutes to check its reputation.

8. GIVE A GO – AHEAD IF EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

- For the sake of expediency, you could allow the shop that’s holding your car to do the work if its price seems fair enough and its reputation is sound.

9. CLOSE DEAL CORRECTLY.

- When the time comes to pick up your car, look the bill over cautiously and make sure the whole thing matches up with the estimate you had been given and the remarks you took at the beginning of this process.

10. READ WARRANTY’S FINE POINT.

- Your warranty may need you to have a fit shop perform routine maintenance — particularly oil changes — on time

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