One very important piece of information that every single person needs to know before purchasing any car is the cost of car maintenance. That is really what qualifies you to buy that car. You may have a surge in income today, this does not qualify you to get a new car. This article will help you know the average amount of money it will cost you to maintain that car before buying it.
The Cost of Car Maintenance
Unless you are using them for business, cars fall under that category of luxury or liabilities. One who is in full control of his or her income will go for the car that suits his/her present financial status. This article is in no way meant for financial advice, but I will try to drop bits and pieces of it as I go along the way.
Car Maintenance
car maintenance is the regular service that is required for your car to function properly. When you are budgeting for the cost of a car, you are most likely to consider the cost of gas, tolls, and auto insurance, but do not forget that the cost of daily and other routine maintenance should be considered too.
Most times, we are not at the top of our minds when considering transportation costs and budget. Routine car maintenance is very necessary for the health and longevity of your car. It can help you avoid drawbacks like repairs down the road.
Written below is what the normal cost of car maintenance looks like;
The Cost of Car Maintenance
While the cost of owning a car is from $6,354 annually for a small sedan to about $10,054 annually for a pickup truck, the expected cost of routine car maintenance and repair is something that may surprise you. According to a study by AAA, a new car’s routine maintenance and repairs could cost an average of $0.09 per mile depending on the type of car.
This means that If you drive 10,000 miles in a year, it becomes $900. If you drive 20,000 miles, that figure jumps to $1,800 every year. For this reason, it is very important to create a budget for these things.
For car maintenance, these are the major things you should plan for;
- Oil Change
- Windshield Wiper replacement
- The cost of a new battery
- The cost of replacing brake pads
- Tire rotation replacement.
As a car owner, you should be very attentive to little signals that your car shows. Know them, understand them, and know how to tackle them.
Now let’s explain these areas individually and their costs;
Oil Change
As suggested by experts, changing your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles on most newer cars. Although older vehicles may require more frequent changing of oil. Your frequency of taking care of this routine maintenance item will depend on how much, and how far you drive. Even if you do not reach the minimum mileage threshold, you will still have to change the oil every 12 months to keep your car working in order. The standard could cost between $25 and $55. For synthetic oils, it could cost between $45 to $75.
Windshield Wiper Replacement
Driving on a rainy day could be very frustrating. Especially when you realized that your wipers are bad. For this reason, you should replace your wipers every six to 12 months, or as soon as you start noticing faults.
Replacing your wiper will most likely cost under $85 if you pay for labor. You can save $25 If you replace the blades yourself.
The Cost of a New Battery
Some people believe that their car batteries are everlasting. Your car battery should be replaced every three to five years to be on the safer side. The lifeline of your battery depends on a lot of factors including the amount of heat that your vehicle is subjected to, or whether you leave your car unused for a long period of time.
If you leave your car’s inner light on, this could kill your battery faster. The replacement of the battery of your car may cost between $60 to $200 depending on the make or model of your battery.
The Cost of Replacing Brake Pads
What I suggest about routines like this is to have the tools and learn how to do it yourself. But, if you are like some of the people I know who do not want to get themselves dirty, you could call a mechanic. The frequency of replacing your brake pads will depend on how often you use your brakes. When you need to repair your brake, there will be a few signs. Your car may make a screeching sound when you apply the brakes or your car’s indicator light will come on. Brake pads generally cost between $35 to $150 for all four wheels.
Tire Rotation Replacement.
If your car tires are too worn out, it could increase your stopping distance on wet highways by 87 ft. the cost of replacement of the four wheels is about $400 to $1800 depending on the quality of the tires you buy and the type of car that you own.
Car Maintenance Near Me
Locating the best mechanics close to you is not very hard. You can use many resources online for that. Right here, I am going to recommend one of them called, Yelp.com. when you get to the home page, you will see a search bar, type mechanic, and type your location on the next search bar. Click search after doing this, and you will be directed to the mechanics around you.
