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However, if your manufacturer’s warranty is expired, you’ll need to get a little bit more creative! Before You Start Trying to Pay for Repairs – Get Repair Quotes From Multiple Mechanics You should get a minimum of 3 repair quotes if possible before deciding where to get your car repair done.Ĭomparison shopping is your best friend when you need to save money on car repairs. They’ll negotiate the payment with the repair shop and you’ll be on your way with no money out of your pocket. If your repair is covered by the warranty, great! Call up your warranty company prior to authorizing the repair, and then let them handle the rest. Your car’s warranty policy will break down the difference between a covered repair and an exclusion. If your car is still under warranty, check to see if the repair you need is considered a covered repair. However, there are exceptions like Hyundai, which offers a 10 year / 100,000-mile limited warranty.Ĭheck our table here for more information about your car’s manufacturer warranty. Your car’s manufacturer warranty is normally 5 years / 60,000 miles. Most automotive manufacturers offer a warranty that protects you against any breakdowns your car may have. If you have a newer car, you may be in luck. Check If Your Car Is Covered Under Warranty If your car is under the manufacturer’s warranty, you won’t pay any cash out of pocket for covered repairs. Insurance isn’t going to cover a mechanical breakdown, unless you have a factory warranty or an extended warranty covering your car. You will need to file an insurance claim, but your repairs should be covered in full by your insurance company.īut if your car broke down on its own, you’re out of luck. If your car was damaged in a wreck, your car insurance will pay for the cost of repairs after you cover your deductible. Did You Get Into a Wreck, or Did Your Car Break Down on Its Own? Car Insurance will cover your car if you’re in an accident, but it won’t cover you if your car breaks down. The first thing you need to do is assess your situation. The good news is, you have plenty of options to pay for car repairs, even if you don’t have any money. So you might be thinking “how can I get my car fixed with no money?” Whether it’s to get to work, to school, or to pick up your kids, going without a car is probably not an option if you’re like most people. With the average American vehicle needing over $1,100 dollars a year to just perform regular repairs, suffering a mechanical failure can be devastating, especially if it’s part of your car’s expensive powertrain.Įven worse, a 2019 GOBankingRates survey found that 58% of American adults had less than $1,000 dollars saved.īut you need your car. The average cost of a car repair has increased by 872% since 1969.Ĭar repairs suck, and it seems like they always happen at the worst times when your budget is tighter than normal.
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