Having your own car gives you a sense of freedom. You can go anywhere and do anything you want, whenever you want. However, it also includes certain responsibilities such as performing preventative maintenance on your vehicle and paying for repairs. The information in this article can get you on the road again quickly.

Always have a good battery charger in your car. Dead batteries happen a lot, and you can provide assistance to others if you keep a charger on hand. Make sure you know how to connect the charger to your battery.

You don’t need to call someone to repair your car each time you’re experiencing trouble. You can do a number of things on your own if you know how to. If you want to take a chance, you can go online and do some research to pinpoint what the problem is. It’s not too hard to do, and you’ll be able to get money saved back to start repairing things.

Know what your costs will be before handing your keys over to the mechanic. If you aren’t sure about anything, ask for clarification. This will give you a good idea of what you will be paying.

Look at the reviews of local auto shops online. This will let you know how others feel about the services they provide. You can use online reviews to find an auto repair shop that you are comfortable giving your business to.

Ask a potential mechanic if they have experience with working on the exact kind of car you have. This will give you a better idea of their experience and the skills that they bring to the table.

You should not leave anything inside your car if you need to take it to a repair shop. Some of these items may need to be removed so the mechanic can do his work, and the shop is not responsible if anything is lost. Clear out your trunk, too.

If your headlights are not shining as brightly, check to see if they are clean. Dirt and grease buildup can significantly dull your headlights. Cleaning your lights with a glass cleaner will allow them to perform better.

Make sure you are receiving OEM parts. These parts come from the manufacturer of your car. While generic could be a cheaper option, you don’t know how they will perform in the future. They may initially be a deal, but the generic parts may make you pay more in the long run.

Assemble a DIY auto repair tool kit to keep in the trunk of your car. You need to have tools to change a tire, which have come along with your car. A car jack and a lug wrench are essential tools to have. You should also have good quality Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers, socket wrenches and a ratchet set, a torque wrench and an adjustable wrench. Don’t waste your money by purchasing cheap tools. You want tools that are reliable and up to the task at hand.

You do not have to have repairs done at the auto dealer. There are good mechanics all over that can fix your car. If you find someone that you’re comfortable with, they should be used.

Make sure your mechanic knows how to work on your make of vehicle. While the basic components are all the same, there is going to to be a big difference in the way say a Hummer versus a Smart car utilize the space under the hood. If you cannot be sure, just take the car to a dealership.

A daring do-it-yourself approach isn’t always the best idea. Don’t ever do repairs alone. Only invest in the best tools available. In particular, only use the best equipment for changing tires. Do not forget that you are relying on your jack to support your car while you work beneath it. A good investment is to purchase a hydraulic floor jack and use jack stands after elevating the car.

Repairs do not always have to run into the thousands. You can often take care of the problems by yourself. Just make sure the tips that have been laid out here are followed if you want to get your automobile up and running once again.

Put together an auto repair kit and keep it in your car. For instance, if anything dealing with tire changes came with the car, have this in your car. Get a lug wrench and jack if you do not have one yet. You will need several screwdrivers, ratchets, socket wrenches, an adjustable wrench and a torque wrench. Don’t buy poor-quality tools. Instead, you should obtain solid tools that don’t break whenever you really need them.