Going On A Road Trip This Summer? Mechanic Says Checking This One Thing 'Can Save You Hundreds'—Or Even Prevent A Crash

"Most people wait until their car breaks..."

Photo by: Quilia & Jimmy Nilsson Masth

By: Stacy Fernandez

May 18, at 6:00pm ET

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Some people don’t put all that much thought into maintaining their vehicles. Instead, they choose to drive it until something goes wrong and figure it out at the mechanic.

But that’s only hurting your car’s longevity. A mechanic recently offered some advice on what you should do to keep your car running as well and as long as possible.

What may not seem like a big deal today could leave you stranded on the side of the road en route to the beach this summer. So instead of taking the laissez-faire approach to car maintenance, you may want to take his advice—or you could find yourself waiting for a tow truck in the summer sun.

Five Checks Every Driver Should Be Doing

In a TikTok with more than 2.8 million views, mechanic @pina.garage laid out five car maintenance checks that take less than two minutes each and can prevent repairs that run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars.

"Most people wait until their car breaks to check anything," the caption reads.

Here are the five things @pina.garage recommends routinely checking:

Tire pressure: "Over or under inflating your tires can cause uneven wear. Simple check can save you hundreds,” he says.
Coolant level: "One minute to check. Thousands to repair if you run it empty."
Engine air filter: "Check your engine filter. I taught my sis in 3 mins how to check hers. A YouTube video will show you exactly how to do it. Should be changed at least once a year."
Battery terminals: "Check your battery terminals. If it looks like this, it's time to clean the terminals or soon replace the entire battery,” he says, showing a battery with corrosion on the terminals.
Engine oil level: "Check your engine oil level at least once a month."
"Your future self (and wallet) will thank you," the caption closes.

What Skipping Maintenance Actually Costs You

According to Consumer Affairs, the average car costs around $900 per year to repair and maintain, though that figure is typically lower for drivers who stay on top of routine checks.

Every year, the cost gets a little higher; per Consumer Affairs, the price of car maintenance and repair climbed 44% between January 2019 and January 2025.

AAA estimates the monthly amount you should save to stay on top of routine maintenance at around $103 for the average driver, but notes that those with older vehicles and higher-mileage drivers should budget more.

The higher costs are the unplanned ones: a failing alternator runs $500 to $1,000, a transmission replacement can hit $6,000, and an engine replacement can exceed $10,000. Most of those disasters have warning signs like low oil, weak battery terminals, and dirty filters. In those situations, a quick check could cost you hundreds or thousands down the road.

Common Car Maintenance Costs To Know

Staying on top of routine maintenance doesn't have to be expensive; it's the repairs that pile up when you don't stay on top of it.

Here's what to expect to pay for the basics, according to Consumer Affairs and NerdWallet:

Oil change: $60–$275 depending on the vehicle; needed every 5,000–7,500 miles
Tire rotation and balance: around $130; recommended every 5,000–7,500 miles
Engine air filter replacement: around $80; should be changed at least once a year
Windshield wiper replacement: around $90, or $50 if you do it yourself; replace every year
Brake pad replacement: around $340 per wheel; pads typically last 30,000–50,000 miles
Battery replacement: around $410; most batteries last three to five years
Full set of tires: around $900; tires generally last up to 50,000 miles