The lingering economic malaise that has affected the U.S. since the housing crisis has caused Americans to take many cost-cutting measures in recent years. One of these, according to a study from AutoMD.com, is that motorists are doing their own car maintenance at a higher rate than before.
Nearly all of those who responded to AutoMD.com’s survey that they were performing their own auto repairs said that they had saved money because of it – 97 percent, to be precise. A third of all DIY mechanics reported having saved $1,000 or more per year, the survey found.
However, the study also found that the DIY mechanics mostly tackled only the most basic repairs. Replacing batteries, air filters, headlight bulbs, and wiper blades were the most commonly handled tasks for those who worked on their cars themselves, according to AutoMD.com. More complex fixes, such as replacing transmission filters, changing a car’s muffler, and repairing or recharging air conditioning systems were more likely to be left to the professionals, the study said.
AutoMD.com president Shane Evangelist said that “we believe that there are many repair jobs that car owners should do, and can easily do, themselves to save money and keep their vehicle running for longer. With unprecedented access to detailed information now available online (and on their iPhones), even those not accustomed to doing their own repairs indicate they’re willing to give it a try – and it’s all adding to a growing and empowered DIY population.”
Experts say that motorists must make sure they know what they’re doing, however – otherwise, there could be consequences for both road safety and car insurance rates.