Your car is your most expensive possession. And you can’t do without it. When something goes wrong, the auto repair cost may be a big expense that just adds to your worries. But what exactly determines an auto repair cost? Let’s find out more about this question by looking at several factors which influence the price of car repairs and maintenance.
Thanks to our friends at Chandler Towing and Recovery, who tow a lot of cars and trucks in Arizona and see a lot of maintenance failures and often give customers a repair estimate based on these tips.
1. The labor costs
The labor price is determined primarily by the type of car you have and even where you are located geographically. For example, mechanics in low-income areas charge lower prices than those in major metropolitan cities because their overhead expenses are less. But the cost of auto repairs or maintenance usually varies between $50 to $75 per hour. So when you estimate for time required for the job, remember to add at least one hour minimum to account for hidden charges that might arise during the process. Some other factors that determine the final cost include: whether your car needs just a minor fix or extensive work; if there is any additional damage done while fixing your car; the severity of damage; etc.
2. The type of car to be fixed
Let’s say you are planning to have your transmission fixed. Well, this type of auto repair job costs anywhere between $500 to $3,000 depending on the make and model of your vehicle. For example European cars need around 4 hours for the job whereas Japanese cars take less time to complete it. And also if you want to replace any parts or components, then that too will increase the cost since these parts are quite expensive.
3. The part(s) broken or damaged
There are various external elements which can damage your perfectly running engine until it is unable to function at all. Also if your air conditioning system stops working or there is a problem with your brakes, then it will cost you more to have them repaired. For example, the radiator flush costs around $145 whereas a new battery requires just $150 to be changed.
4. The part(s) broken or damaged is not available in your car or with your mechanic
If you want any external elements of your car like tires, windshield wipers, etc., which are not available at the local store and will need to be bought from somewhere else such as Amazon or other online retailers; this too will incur an additional expense for shipping fees and installation if required. Also if you want some parts that are rare and difficult to find such as electrical components like carburetors and starters; these may take anywhere between 1-4 days to arrive after the order is placed.
5. The lack of maintenance over time
If your car is not properly maintained, then this too will lead to even more serious problems which can be pretty expensive if they are difficult to fix like transmission overhauls and engine replacements. These costs might again include labor costs since it may involve extensive work. Even changing spark plugs or changing fluids can lead to additional expenses depending on where you get them done; also labor costs aren’t usually included in these types of jobs.