How I Saved 37% on My Car Repair Bill

My darling little car is just approaching its 50,000 mile birthday, so things will start to pop up now and again that need to be fixed. It hasn't given me a lick of trouble in the three years I've had it, so I guess I'm up for the task of a little repair now and then. Just as long as it's not too much! ;-)

So a couple weeks ago I took it in to my dealer for a repair. The total bill came to $327.05. I paid $207.05 -- a 37% savings. How did I do this? Two simple steps:

• I had a coupon good for $20 off car work that the dealer had sent me a month ago. I file these in my car file at home and pull them out if they're ever needed.

• I had a $100 voucher from my Subaru Platinum MasterCard from Chase that I applied toward the bill. I get 3% back on the card, so it's a great way for me to save money on my car repairs.

Of course, I prefer to earn money with credit cards (almost $500 last year) and as such I paid for my repair with my Blue Cash from American Express card. So count that as another $2 saved/earned as part of the transaction. ;-)

Comments

[Savvy Steward]

Hey FMF, what kind of Subaru do you own?

[FMF]

A Forester. I need it to get through the Michigan snow!!!

[Crazily Fast and Furious]

That's a big savings. Car owner is mainly concern on how to protect their cars. It feels bad when car parts failed or damaged (ex: oldsmobile muffler - http://www.flowpowerexhaust.com/muffler~oldsmobile~flowmaster.html ). It means that you have to bring it to a shop to have it fix. Sometimes it costs a lot. If only this things can be avoided so that we will not be bother by these repair bills.

[linda]

I'm a single mom and cannot afford to pay for repairs on my subaru. to top it all off, I had tires put on my car last year that didn't last me through this winter and I ended up running into a guardrail because the back tires were worn so bad. This after I suposedly had a rotation when I had my oil changed. I try to know things so I wont look or behave like a "cha ching stupid woman with no knowledge of cars" but I guess I'm too trusting at times and got suckered.I need help fixing the car and don't know where to turn. If anyone knows of any place that won't take me for a ride or any money a person like myself can have for car repairs (I did not become a single mom by choice) I would like some info. I live in NE PA. I don't have email because I can't afford it. My free email was cancelled by hotmail. If you post info on this site, I can read it via library access. Thank you so much in advance for those who can help with info. If I don't get the car fixed, I won't be able to get to work. Thanks and God be with you. linda