Car Maintenance: for the Record
How Keeping a Vehicle Maintenance Log Can Save You Money
Keeping an up-to-date vehicle maintenance log—whether it's a low-tech notebook or an electronic spreadsheet—is a smart way to trim the cost of keeping a car on the road. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency notes that cars that achieve 30 miles per gallon as a result of good maintenance can save you more than $3,400 over the course of five years. And something as simple as replacing the air filter according to the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule can save you up to 22 cents per gallon.
"Preventative maintenance is the best kind of car maintenance," says Ty Monroe of Northern European Auto Recyclers in Seattle. Maintaining the health of your car costs less in the long run than paying for repairs when parts unexpectedly fail or wear out. Keeping current records will also improve the safety and reliability of your vehicle, speed up car problem diagnosis, and help you avoid unnecessary repairs.
Next to a tire jack and a set of jumper cables, your vehicle maintenance log is one of the most useful tools you can keep in your car. Here are some ways a vehicle maintenance log can help you cut costs:
- It allows your mechanic to diagnose a problem more quickly, saving on labor costs. Monroe recommends providing a copy of your auto repair records when you drop off your car for service.
- Your log can serve as a leveraging tool when you're selling or trading in. You'll get the best trade value or be able to support your asking price if you can prove to the dealer that the car has been well maintained. If you're leasing, your vehicle maintenance log proves that you've honored your car maintenance contract.
- Bought a lemon? A detailed vehicle maintenance log strengthens your case if you're in arbitration with a manufacturer or seller.
- Using your maintenance log to track your mileage will help you notice if your car begins running less efficiently. This may signal an emerging maintenance issue that would cost more to correct were you to fail to catch it early. "Keeping a mileage log is an easy way to diagnose problems early, rather than waiting for the 'check engine' light to go off," says Monroe.
Start Your Paper Trail
Not all repair shops maintain databases for their customers, so it's important to keep your own records up-to-date.
- • Use your smartphone The Car Minder and Gas Cubby apps let iPhone users organize repair histories for multiple vehicles and keep track of their fuel economy, among other useful functions.
- • Surf the net. Websites like ecarlog.com will store your records online and e-mail you reminders when services are due. You'll need to keep a hard copy vehicle maintenance log in your car.
- • Go retro. Use a spiral-bound notebook or a preprinted vehicle record book, one that's small enough to stow in the glove compartment with an attached pen. On the front page, record the car's make, model, and VIN (vehicle identification number), along with your insurance information. Then create a grid to keep track of the date of your last oil change, tire rotation, brake adjustment, and other types of car maintenance.
- • File it. Tuck away all service receipts, so you'll know where the work was done and by whom, and the cost of parts and labor.
