Your car is important to you, and you need to take care of it. Perhaps you’re not sure if you know enough about cars, but are willing to learn. If this is true, then you have found a great article on how you can do some simple car maintenance.

When doing your own work on your automobile, you want to make sure you never take things too far in error. You’re saving yourself some money by doing it yourself, but if you’re not sure about something, you need to find out or let a professional handle the matter. You could end up costing yourself so much money.

When hiring a mechanic to repair to automobile, always seek referrals and opinions from friends, family and colleagues you trust. Doing so will ensure that you can find someone who has provided reliable, quality service in the past and provided good value to customers. In this way, you can greatly improve the likelihood that your car will be in good hands, and you will ultimately be satisfied with the work done.

If your taillight or headlight burns out, you may save a ton repairing them yourself. In some vehicles, this repair is easier than in others. But, if you can do it yourself, you will save money. See if you can get instructions from someone you trust.

Take your vehicle to a full service car wash a couple times a year for an extensive cleaning, inside and out. This removes most of the soil and helps preserve the interior of your car. This can pay off when you want to sell or trade your car in for a newer one.

Speak with friends about auto shop recommendations before you pick a shop. You may get a few recommendations from your friends and family that make your search easier. Even after getting a few names, though, do your research. At least try to find some online reviews on the shops that they recommend.

Always keep some tail light tape around. You could get pulled over and get a ticket for a broken tail light. You should remove the light from your vehicle, replace the light-bulb if you need to and wrap the whole light in tape. This is a temporary fix but it is better than driving with a broken light.

There are no standard warranties on repairs. Make sure you are aware of what your warranty covers and that you have it in writing. Warranties may have limitations such as deductibles, mileage, time, businesses authorized to do the warranty work or special steps needed to get reimbursement. Know your warranty rights.

The warning lights on your dashboard have an important function. Refer to your car manual for explanations. These warning lights are meant to help alert you to potential problems. Don’t ignore any dashboard lights that come on, as the problem may grow worse if it’s ignored.

A dent or scratch in a plastic bumper is very easy to fix. Start by cutting the bits that stick out from the dent until the edges are smooth. You can then use a filler to make the dent disappear. Sand over the area and paint to hide the repair.

Always ask in advance how much labor costs at that particular shop. In fact, do not give them your keys until you have a clear understanding of what you will be charged. Many times, this information is not posted in an obvious place, so it is important to know what you are getting yourself into.

Car care is priority one. Just knowing the basics is a big deal and can help keep the cost of repairs down. Simply apply the steps from this article and you will be one step closer to understanding your car better.