13 Car Maintenance Tips That Can Prevent Major Repair Costs

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But paying a little bit of routine attention (*and cash)* on your vehicle is completely worth it—for your safety *and* your savings. Maintenance can keep your [car from depreciating](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/car-depreciation) as fast as it normally would. We’ve got 13 car maintenance tips that can keep your car out of the shop—and keep you from having to buy a new vehicle for as long as possible. Take a look! ## 13 Car Maintenance Tips to Save You Money ### 1. Check your spare tire. It’s just as important to keep the backup tire inflated as it is the four tires under your car. The last thing you want is to discover your spare is flat while you’re pulling the jack out of your trunk. It’s better to spend a dollar at the air pump every few months to inflate your spare than to spend hundreds on a tow truck in your time of need. ### 2. Change the oil. How much can skipping oil changes affect your budget? Oh, plenty. Oil problems can be some of the costliest car maintenance issues to fix, since oil affects pretty much everything your car does. So don’t skip it. Getting your oil (and filter) changed costs around $35–75.[1](https://www.kbb.com/oil-change/#:~:text=Typically%2C%20an%20oil%20and%20filter,to%20be%20changed%20less%20frequently.) For the price of a family dinner at a higher-end fast-food joint, you’ll lower the risk of wearing out your engine—which costs a lot more than burgers and fries to replace. (And deciding to [repair or replace a car](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/should-i-repair-or-replace-my-car) is never fun.) ### 3. Keep the battery clean. Over time, corrosion (which looks like white or bluish powder) can form on the terminals of your car’s battery (those little metal knobs on top). If you don’t keep them clean, the battery could develop a crack or simply not function, leaving you stranded. Since a quality car battery can cost upward of $250—and a tow can run you even more—buying a $5 wire brush and keeping the terminals looking spiffy is money well spent.[2](https://www.kbb.com/battery-replacement/) ### 4. Replace the brake pads. Do you hear a squeaking sound when you hit the brakes? If so, your brake pads could be on their last legs. Replacements can cost up to $300 per axel, plus the labor charge if a professional installs them.[3](https://www.kbb.com/brake-repair/#:~:text=The%20average%20brake%20pad%20replacement,brake%20pads%20use%20organic%20material.) We know that price tag may seem hefty. But this isn’t something to mess around with. You can’t just screech to a stop with your feet like Fred Flintstone. Don’t get in an accident. Keep your brakes working.  ### Find More Margin With EveryDollar Money feeling tight? Not anymore. The EveryDollar budgeting app helps you free up thousands of dollars you didn’t know you had—in minutes. ### 5. Replace your cabin air filter. Your car’s cabin air filter keeps pollutants from coming in through the vents. It’s a pretty important job, so treat your air filter well. Plus, using an old air filter long past its life can lead to major problems for your air conditioning system. And trust us, you don’t want that. Servicing the AC unit can cost around $430–521, but replacing it is more like $1,319–2,515.[4](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/cost-of-car-ac-repair.html) ### 6. Get new windshield wipers. Depending on the make and model of your car, buying new windshield wipers can run you $50–61 for parts and labor.[5](https://www.kbb.com/service-repair-guide/windshield-wiper-blade-replacement-costs/) While that seems like a hefty price tag for something so small, this is another time when safety is the priority. After all, if you can’t see the road, you really shouldn’t be driving. It. Isn’t. Safe. Repairing or replacing your car after a crash will cost you way more than new wipers. ### 7. Get your tires rotated. Did you know you can easily extend the life of your tires just by rotating them every so often? It’s true! The tires on your car don’t wear down the same way. When you rotate them regularly, they’ll last longer and you’ll save around $187 a tire, which is nearly $748 for a brand-new set of four.[6](https://www.consumerreports.org/tire-buying-maintenance/how-to-save-money-when-buying-replacement-tires/) ### 8. Check the shocks, springs and struts (aka the suspension system). The suspension system is one of those intricate parts of your car that you probably don’t think about—until it stops doing its job and makes your ride bouncier than a trampoline park. If you find that one of the shocks needs to be replaced, go ahead and replace all four of them. Yeah, it sucks, but it’s better in the long run for the overall life and well-being of your car. ### 9. Check your coolant. If you don’t stay on top of changing your coolant, you run the risk of serious corrosion inside your car. Which is both gross and damaging. The coolant affects everything from the heater and air conditioner to the radiator and water pump. For something that impacts *that* much of your car’s overall health, you don’t want to skip the maintenance on this one. ### 10. Check your spark plugs. If your engine is giving you trouble, one of the common reasons (and easy fixes) is the spark plugs. And guess what? A spark plug generally costs less than $10 What a small price to pay to avoid a major engine overhaul—because replacing that sucker *starts* at about $4,000.[8](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/how-much-does-it-cost-to-replace-an-engine.html)Yuck. ### 11. Inspect your belts and hoses. Giving your belts and hoses a once-over can save you from a huge mechanic bill later down the road. Worn-down belts can cause other damage to essential parts of your car. And if you have a weak radiator hose, it could go belly-up completely, which would cause your engine to overheat and not run at all. And running is kind of a car engine’s main job. ### 12. Check your headlights, turn signals, brake and parking lights. Tickets are expensive and can jack up your [car insurance](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/insurance/types-of-car-insurance) costs. Also, your lights are another important safety feature. They help you see and communicate with other drivers. Skip the tickets. Stay safe. Check your lights. ### 13. Do the emissions inspection. Depending on the state or even county you live in, your car may be required to pass a state emissions inspection. By keeping up with the necessary car maintenance on your vehicle, it should pass with flying colors. But if it doesn’t get a gold star, that’s something you want to know too. The emissions facility will tell you what failed and what needs to be fixed so your car can fully pass the inspection—so it’s safe and road-ready. ## Set Up a Car Maintenance Line Item in Your Budget Even though keeping up with car maintenance is less expensive than paying for major repairs, it can still add up. Stay on top things by making sure [car maintenance and repairs have a spot in the budget](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/budgeting-for-car-repair-costs).  Get expert money advice to reach your money goals faster! One of the easiest ways to do that is by creating a [sinking fund](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/stop-the-panic-sinking-fund) for car maintenance. Put a little in the fund each month, and you’ll have cash on hand when you need it! Or if you *know* something big is coming—like you’re going to need to [sell your car](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/how-to-sell-a-car) and buy a new one— stash even more away in that fund so you can pay cash. (By the way, most [wealthy people drive](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/cars-wealthy-people-drive) Hondas and Toyotas and Fords, just like the rest of us.) Ready to start telling your money where to go (instead of always wondering where it went)? Make it easier on yourself and download our [EveryDollar budgeting app](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/money/everydollar). EveryDollar does more than just help you track your spending and manage your money—it actually helps you find more margin every month!Just download the app, answer a few questions, and we’ll build you a plan to free up thousands in margin to put toward your goals. [Start EveryDollar for free right now!](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/money/everydollar) Okay. There you go—13 car maintenance tips, and how to budget for them so you can enjoy the ride with less stress. ### Get Weekly Insights Delivered Straight to Your Inbox #### Did you find this article helpful? Share it!  About the author Ramsey Solutions Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners. [Learn More.](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/about) ## Related Articles  ### [10 Car Buying Tips](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/car-buying-tips) In the market for a new-to-you ride? Use these 10 car buying tips to help you find a reliable car you can actually afford!  Ramsey Solutions  ### [How to Buy a Used Car Right Now](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/how-to-buy-a-used-car) Used cars may not be as cheap as they once were. But you can still find a reliable used car in your price range!  Ramsey Solutions  ### [How to Decide if You Should Repair or Replace Your Car](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/should-i-repair-or-replace-my-car) Car problems giving you a headache? Here’s how to decide if your car is worth fixing or if it’s time to sell it.  Ramsey Solutions By continuing on our site, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies as explained in our Privacy Policy, and agree to our Terms of Use. [Privacy Policy](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy#tracking-preferences) and [Terms of Use](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/terms-of-use).  ©2026 Lampo Licensing, LLC. All rights reserved.