5 Car Repairs I've Done Myself That Saved Me Thousands

The cost of car repairs has soared over the past few years and rose an astonishing 17% in much of 2023. Inflation is partly to blame, but so is a parts and labor shortage that began during the pandemic and has stubbornly persisted.

It's been a while since I've worked on my car, but I've done a handful of repairs myself over the years, saving me thousands of dollars. Here's how much each of these repairs costs right now, and one way you can save money on your car ownership without breaking out the wrenches.

1. Alternator

When it's working right, the alternator recharges the car's battery and helps power some car accessories like power windows. When it's not working correctly, you get a dead battery. I drove my old car for more than 10 years, and I replaced the alternator at least twice.

I saved hundreds of dollars buying rebuilt alternators and installing them years ago, but the savings are even more drastic now. Kelley Blue Book says the price range for replacing an alternator at a mechanic shop was between $746 and $842 last year.

2. Brake pads

Brake pads are a relatively simple car repair but an essential one. It doesn't take too much work to get the wheel off the car, your brake caliper off the brake rotor, and your brake pads switched out. There are many great YouTube videos, likely for your car's make, model, and year, explaining exactly how to do it.

A mechanic has all the right tools and skills to do it even faster, but it'll cost you. A complete brake pad and rotor replacement costs between $532 to $612.

3. Valve cover gasket

The valve cover gasket helps seal oil in the engine, and in my old car, it had completely worn out, letting oil spew out near the top of the engine. The gasket itself is cheap, usually $40 or less, but it was a moderately difficult car repair for a novice like me and took up much of my weekend.

Getting this one done by the mechanic would have saved me a lot of time, but getting that work done today would set me back $240 to $289.

4. Radiator

I knew my old car's radiator needed replacing, thanks to the huge puddle of engine coolant left on the pavement. That's always a fun revelation. I have to admit that while I felt proud to change this out myself, I didn't enjoy doing the work.

The payoff of replacing this yourself is significant, though. The average cost of radiator replacement is between $1,041 and $1,290.

5. Serpentine belt

One day, I came home from work to find my father-in-law's car in my driveway, which was unusual. He and his friend had come to my house to replace the serpentine belt on his car, but after cutting it off and realizing they couldn't get the new one on, they were waiting for me to get home and replace it. Lucky me.

The serpentine belt is a rubber belt that helps power most cars' alternator, steering pump, air conditioning, and water pump. It's usually not a difficult job, but it can be if there isn't enough space between the engine and the car's frame. Which there wasn't.

After many hours and some colorful word choices, I got the belt on, and my father-in-law was on his way. This fix isn't expensive and only costs between $113 to $139 -- a price I should have paid (and pitched in for the tow truck) to have a mechanic do it.

How to save money on car ownership without getting your hands dirty

Expensive car repairs are bad enough, but their increase has come at the same time that car insurance prices have spiked more than 20% over the past year.

That makes getting a good deal on your insurance more important than ever. Here's how to do it:

Improve your credit score

Many car insurance companies consider your credit score when setting your insurance rates. Consider paying down the balance on your credit card to help improve your score. If you can't do that right now, ask your credit card company to increase your credit limit, which lowers your credit utilization and can improve your score.

Shop around for a different insurance company

Some surveys have shown that 92% of people who switch car insurance providers receive a lower rate. Car insurance companies have their own factors in setting their rates, so getting quotes from different providers is an excellent way to find cheaper car insurance.

Ask about discounts

Insurance companies are pretty good about applying discounts, but sometimes you should follow up to find out if there are discounts you're missing out on, like bundling your home and auto insurance. You may also want to ask about lesser-known discount options, like usage-based insurance, which tracks your driving and adjusts your rate.

Insurance prices probably won't decline this year, so now could be an excellent time to shop around for the best car insurance company for you. And while it's tempting to look for every possible angle to maximize your car ownership savings, take it from me and pay the mechanic to replace the serpentine belt. You'll save your Saturday and your sanity.