How To Budget For Car Maintenance Costs

Whether you’ve been driving the same car for 10 years or just bought a new one, car maintenance costs and repairs are inevitable. What can be difficult is that car repair costs can vary wildly depending on the service.

At Boggs, we take the stress out of car repairs by being 100% transparent about estimated costs and repair times. We also don’t perform any work on your vehicle until we have your approval. No surprise car maintenance costs! If your car is in need of repairs or regular maintenance, schedule service with us for peace of mind.

Our 5 Most Common Car Repairs

Most of the time our customers bring their cars in for repair outside of regular maintenance appointments because they either notice a problem (like brakes starting to squeal) or a check engine light has popped up on the dashboard display.

Costs for repairs vary depending on the make, model, and year of every vehicle, but we wanted to give you an idea of what costs you could anticipate if your car needs the following repairs.

New Tires

We recommend our customers purchase 4 tires at a time. New tires generally are $100 – $300 each, depending on the type.

Battery Replacement

At Boggs, the average car battery costs $175 – $250 including labor. The batteries also come with a 36-month warranty.  We typically have batteries in stock and you do not need an appointment for this service.

Alternator Replacement

Alternators generally will wear out and need to be replaced every 50,000 – 100,000 miles, depending on your vehicle. If your alternator dies, your entire electrical system will stop working, so it’s an essential repair to plan for, usually ranging from $600 – $800.

Brake Repair/Replacement

Brake work is one of the most essential car maintenance jobs and if you get your oil changed with us, we’ll check your brakes and let you know when you can expect they’ll need to be serviced.

Different car models require different types of brake services, from brake pads, to brake drums, calipers, and rotors. If you’re curious about how much you should expect to spend the next time your brakes need to be repaired, just ask us the next time you’re in!

Timing Belt Replacement

Timing belts need to be regularly replaced, as they’re extremely vulnerable to wear and tear. Putting off the replacement is dangerous and if you wait until the belt breaks, you risk damage to your car’s camshaft, valves, pistons, and more. 

Financially Plan Ahead For Car Maintenance Costs

If you’re a car owner, it’s inevitable that you’ll need to pay for repairs. Even if it’s just regularly scheduled maintenance, costs can add up. Here are our favorite suggestions for helping plan ahead financially for those necessary (and often unexpected!) repairs.

Buy An Aftermarket Warranty

An aftermarket car warranty is a protection plan you can purchase for your car or truck after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. This type of warranty can help pay for future repairs. The good news is you can purchase this type of warranty at any time, not just when you first purchase your vehicle!

Double Check Your Car Insurance Policy

Some car repairs are covered by your car insurance, so make sure you know exactly what your policy covers and what it doesn’t. If you have questions about the process, check in with your insurance agent or give us a call!

Add Car Maintenance Costs To Your Regular Budget

Keeping your car safe and on the road as long as possible should be a priority, so make sure you budget for regular maintenance. If you aren’t sure how to start budgeting, use this tool to get started. That way you’ll always have money set aside each month for regular maintenance.

Create A Separate Fund For Big Repairs

Eventually, you’ll need to spend a chunk of your budget on your vehicle, it’s going to happen, so why not plan for it? You can create a car emergency savings account and even setting aside $100 a month will help you get ahead of any emergency repairs.

Boggs Is Here To Help!

Not sure what the next “big” repair will be for your vehicle? Bring your car into Boggs and our mechanics can check it over and make recommendations, complete with estimated costs and recommended timelines for upcoming car repairs.

Let us take the stress out of car maintenance and repair for you!
We’re proud to be your local full-service car repair and maintenance shop with two convenient locations in Warsaw. We also have free pick-up available with our Boggs Driver service for oil changes and preventative maintenance services.

No appointment is necessary for oil changes at Boggs Pit Stop or Boggs Automotive, so you can just stop by! If you’d like to schedule any other car repair services, just click below to give us a call.