How to Get Free Car Maintenance and Repairs
If you own a car, you have a long list of required maintenance and potentially costly repairs, especially if your goal is to keep your old car running for as long as possible . Average vehicle maintenance and repair costs are about 10 cents per mile —or about $1,500 per year if you drive an average of 15,000 miles. And unexpected repairs can be much worse—like a new transmission (usually over $5,000) or a new head gasket (around $2,000).
If you know your way around a vehicle, you can save some money by doing the repairs yourself . But if you’re not the DIY type, there’s still hope: You might be able to get free (or very inexpensive) service and repairs for your car if you know where to look.
Check for reviews and warranties
Your first stop should be to carefully review your vehicle’s warranty, if it has one, as well as potential recalls. A car’s manufacturer’s warranty usually transfers to the new owner , so your car may still be under warranty even if you didn’t check it when you bought it. And certified pre-owned vehicles usually come with some kind of limited warranty, so you may have options.
Recalls can be easily overlooked when purchasing a used car because they only address specific issues. But if one of these specific problems is your problem, then finding out that your make and model has it may allow you to get it repaired for free, so it’s worth checking out .
Pep Boys and AutoZone
In fact, at many Pep Boys and Autozone locations you can get free minor maintenance tasks including windshield wiper replacements, free check engine reports, free electrical testing and battery charging, and free alignment checks.
Honestly, these are clearly “loss leader” services designed to get you into the store in the hope that if they find problems, you’ll just pay them for the job. But these are legitimately free maintenance services that can save you some money and maybe alert you to the big repair bill you’ll have to deal with in the near future so you can start making plans.
Many local mechanics will also perform these checks and maintenance jobs free of charge (for the same reasons), so it’s worth calling and seeing if this is an option.
Voluntary repairs
Dealers and mechanics sometimes perform what are called ” good ” repairs. These are repairs or other maintenance work that are no longer covered by a warranty or other formal agreement, but are still performed at no cost to you. Goodwill repairs are entirely at the discretion of the dealer or mechanic, so there is no guarantee that repairs will be received. On the other hand, it doesn’t hurt to ask. If your car is out of warranty or you have a long-standing relationship with your mechanic, they may be willing to do you some favors.
Vocational schools
If there is an automotive or vocational program near you, it may be looking for vehicles that students can work on as part of their coursework—at no cost to you. There’s no guarantee that a program in your area will be looking for vehicles to repair, but it’s worth calling to find out. You can find local auto mechanic programs here to do a little research and see if anyone in your area needs training cars.
Assistance programs
If you can’t find a mechanic or program that provides free car repairs, you can make those repairs free by getting financial assistance. There may be local programs that help people pay for car repairs, and here are a few national resources to look into:
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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) sometimes offers assistance with vehicle repairs, depending on current funding and the state in which you live .
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ModestNeeds.org offers self-sufficiency grants, including auto repair grants. There is an application process and eligibility is based on need.
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Veterans programs. There are many financial assistance programs that provide grants and loans to military veterans, and many include the cost of auto repairs. Operation Homefront also offers veterans explicit assistance with vehicle repairs.