7 Ways To Prep Your Car To Avoid Costly Repairs in 2025

Want to save thousands on car repairs next year? Auto expert Chris Pyle from JustAnswer shares some straight talk about what actually kills cars — and how to avoid it.

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Stop Ignoring Those Warning Lights

“When the oil light or coolant light comes on… stop the engine now,” Pyle warned. “Don’t think, ‘I am two miles from the exit or home.’ You already have a damaged engine, don’t ruin it beyond repair for convenience.”

Skip the ‘Magic Fix’ Solutions

“Mechanic in a bottle solutions are for emergencies only,” Pyle explained. Those stop-leak products for engine, transmission or coolant leaks? They’re not meant to be permanent fixes. Get the real leak repaired before you end up with bigger problems.

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Actually Read Your Manual

“People will buy a $150 microwave and read the manual on how to use it, but not for a car costing over $60K,” Pyle noted. That maintenance schedule in your glove box? It’s literally your roadmap to avoiding major repairs.

Don’t Cheap Out on Parts

Pyle’s seen it too often: “After-market parts are cost-appealing but don’t cover labor time to replace faulty parts or towing.” Sometimes paying more upfront for OEM parts saves money in the long run.

Mind Those Tire Pressures

“Tires are not cheap,” Pyle said. His tip? Check pressure when the tires are cold and adjust to your car’s specs, not the tire’s max pressure. Under- or over-inflated tires wear out way faster.

Ditch the Automatic Car Wash Brush

Seems harmless, right? Nope. “You’re just smearing the dirt from the previous UTV or trailer all over your nice paint job,” Pyle said.

Get a Real Checklist

“Go to Google and search ‘car checklist’ then print one off,” Pyle suggested. “There are many things all around your car to inspect that are often overlooked.”

If you’ve got the tools and know-how, do these inspections regularly.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Ways To Prep Your Car To Avoid Costly Repairs in 2025