You probably realize that making mechanical repairs to your car from time to time is something that you aren't going to be able to avoid. Some repairs are much more expensive than others, though, and if your car needs major repairs — such as if you need to replace the engine or transmission — then you could be looking at an expensive repair bill. You may be able to shave some of the cost off, though, if you follow these tips.

1. Check for Warranty Coverage

For one thing, don't automatically assume that you are going to have to pay for the major mechanical repairs for your car. Instead, you should first make sure that there isn't some type of warranty coverage that you can count on. If you purchased your car new, then it might still be under warranty; even if the bumper-to-bumper warranty is no longer valid, there might be a powertrain warranty that will cover the cost of certain repairs. If you purchased your car used, then it might be under a limited warranty of some sort. Even if you don't think that your car is under warranty, it's worth your while to do a little bit of research to make sure that this is the case before you pay for the repairs yourself.

2. Look Into Buying Refurbished Parts

Instead of immediately looking into brand-new mechanical parts for your car, you may want to look into refurbished parts instead. If you are purchasing a major part like an engine or a transmission, you may stand to save a lot of money by making this choice. If you buy a part that has been properly refurbished and that might even have a limited warranty of some sort, then you may find that this is your best way to cut costs on your major car repair.

3. Get Your Core Charge Back

In many cases, a core charge applies to car parts. If you return the engine, transmission, or other part that is being replaced, then you may get a refund on the deposit that you paid on the part that you purchased. This can help you immediately get some of the money that you have invested back.

When having major mechanical repairs done to your car, it is easy to spend a lot of money. Even though you might realize that this is an ordinary part of car ownership, you could be hoping to reduce those costs. Luckily, it might be possible for you to save on major mechanical repairs for your vehicle with the help of the three tips above.

For more information, contact local professionals like those found at Tate's Automotive.