YONKERS, NY — Consumers can save hundreds on auto maintenance by comparison shopping and calling several dealerships and independent shops, according to a new analysis in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto issue.

When budgets get tight, many people are tempted to cut back on their regular car maintenance. But that can lead to serious repair problems and even larger bills down the road. Drivers can save a lot of money on maintenance simply by shopping around.

CR’s experts called dozens of dealers and repair shops throughout the country to get quotes for regular maintenance service on three popular models. In the case of the 2004 Ford Explorer, they asked for the cost of a 60,000-mile checkup and found prices varied by as much as $252, even among Ford dealers in the same general area.

In addition, they found that dealers often wanted to charge for extra work that the automaker doesn’t require. CR discovered this when they compared the service items included in quotes with the maintenance lists in the owner’s manuals. They also found that quotes from independent shops that included all the items in the manual were sometimes $150 below the cheapest dealer.

“Consumers are feeling the pinch these days, but with a little detective work, they can save hundreds, while still taking proper care of their vehicles,” said Rik Paul, Automotive Editor, Consumer Reports.

The full report on how to save hundreds on auto maintenance is available in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue on newsstands from March 3 to May 4 and online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

Dialing for dollars

The maintenance schedule in your car’s owner’s manual is the automaker’s prescription for keeping the vehicle in good operating condition. Those regular check-ups should be performed at the proper mileage intervals. But although the automaker sets the schedule, individual dealers set their own prices.

CR called several dealers in the Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York metro areas and asked their price for a specific scheduled-maintenance interval and what service items they included. In each city, CR chose dealers that were in relative close proximity. They asked for the 30,000-mile maintenance service for a 2005 Toyota Camry, the 60,000-mile service for a 2004 Ford Explorer, or the 120,000-mile service for a 2003 Honda Civic.

For the Camry’s 30,000-mile service, CR was quoted $187 at one Chicago-area Toyota dealership, but $388 and $400 at two others. In Los Angeles, quotes ranged from $273 to $389.

Similarly, for the Explorer’s 60,000-mile service, CR was quoted prices of $400, $499, and $589 by different Ford dealerships in the New York City metro area. In Los Angeles, the same service drew quotes ranging from $338 to $590.

For the Civic’s 120,000-mile service, CR received quotes ranging from $392 to $560 in the Chicago area.

Service prices may vary because many dealer estimates included extra service items that go beyond what’s listed in the owner’s manuals. Those can include engine and transmission flushes or automatically replacing fluids and filters that the automakers’ maintenance schedules call for just inspecting.

When CR asked the automakers about extra services, all three said that you shouldn’t need maintenance beyond what’s listed in the owner’s manual.

The Bottom Line: Always check what you’re being charged for against the maintenance items in your owner’s manual. If the price includes items that are not in the schedule, ask for a price without them. According to the manufacturers CR talked to, you’ll be giving your car everything you should to keep it on the road.

5 Auto Service Rip-Offs

1. Flushing the engine or transmission. Those are common ways for dealers to pad their maintenance bills. Automakers recommend against flushing the engine.

2. Automatically charging for “severe” maintenance. Some shops assume you need the car’s severe-use maintenance service, which typically involves changing filters and fluids more frequently than the regular service schedule recommends. See your owner’s manual for details; most drivers need to follow only the normal schedule.

3. Frequently replacing different parts. A mechanic who keeps charging you to replace different parts to solve the same problem is probably having trouble diagnosing your car. Even if the mistake is an honest one, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Ask the mechanic to refund the cost of the first repair, which probably wasn’t necessary. Otherwise, replace the mechanic.

4. Replacing the same part over and over again.  That might indicate shoddy workmanship or a poor-quality part; neither should cost you extra. The Internet makes it easy to see whether a model is prone to certain problems. Search for your model in forums. Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s web site (https://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/) for automaker service bulletins and consumer complaints. Also, check www.ConsumerReports.org and click on Cars, then Car Forums, then John’s Tool Box.

5. Insisting that only dealerships can perform maintenance.  Legally, you can have maintenance performed at any mechanic without affecting your warranty. Just keep thorough records in case of a warranty claim. The only service that needs to be performed at dealerships are warranty repairs, recalls, or post-warranty work that you want the manufacturer to pay for. 

Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sources for information and advice on consumer products and services. It conducts the most comprehensive auto-test program of any U.S. publication or Web site; the magazine’s auto experts have decades of experience in driving, testing, and reporting on cars. To subscribe to Consumer Reports, call 1-800-234-1645. Information and articles from the magazine can be accessed online at www.ConsumerReports.org.