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Be Prepared for the Cost of Repair, Replacement Parts and General Maintenance

Why do mortgage holders request that real estate taxes be included in monthly payments? So the money is there. Why do many homeowners prefer budgeted utility bills? There?s no whopping bill at the end of the year. Along these lines, earmarking funds for car care is a great way to be sure you?re able to take care of repairs, avoiding the pitfalls of delayed maintenance.

?Postponing replacement of worn tires, brake parts or spark plugs, for example, can compromise the safety or dependability of your car,? says Donna Wagner, President of the Car Care Council.

?These are among the many components that are consumed with miles. As your gas tank nears empty you refill it; most motorists expect that and budget for it. Likewise,? she continues, ?a person who sets aside a fixed sum every month in a sort of rainy day fund avoids credit card interest or scrambling for money when its time to pay the repair bill.?

The Council reports that nearly 8 out of 10, among thousands of vehicles inspected during National Car Care Month, are found to have one or more discrepancies. In many cases repairs were delayed because of other drains on the family budget.

How much is enough in the cookie jar? It depends not only upon the type of vehicle but also how much and how it?s driven. Wagner offers the scenario of a typical mid-size 5-year-old car that?s driven about 1,000 miles a month. ?The program should lead off with a comprehensive inspection by a qualified technician. Then, after needed replacements and repairs have been mad and the vehicle has a clean ?bill of health?, about 6 cents per mile should go into the cookie jar. For typical driving, that amounts to about $60 per month, which should cover most mechanical work plus tire replacement.

?Ideally, the well maintained vehicle isn?t beset by catastrophic failures that can often lead to expensive repairs. Radiator hoses are replaced before they rupture, for example, averting serious engine damage; brake work is done when it?s needed, helping to avoid expensive replacement of damaged drums or rotors.

?The stitch in time rule works in car care,? she concluded, ?and having the money at hand makes the big difference.?