Unlike gas costs, which are happily plummeting, auto repair costs typically remain relatively even from month to month and year to year. Absent the dramatic discounts you enjoy at the pump, how can you decide whether you should invest in a pricey repair or trade in your car for a newer model? Here are a few things to consider.

If you own a vehicle, you’re familiar with the vehicle inspection process. Like paying taxes, getting your car inspected is just one of those things you’ve got to do each 2 years. Or is it? Beginning in May 2016, New Jersey will enact changes to its vehicle emissions inspection program. For one group of car owners, the changes will certainly be welcome!

With each model year, car manufacturers try to add bells and whistles to entice consumers to buy their vehicles. In recent years, one innovation that has become popular and touted as a luxury feature is a technology called direct injection. If you’re like many car buyers, you probably assume any innovation in vehicle technology is a good one. Sometimes, though, new technologies have unintended negative repercussions. The evidence is mounting that direct injection may be an example of such a technology. So, is direct injection helping or hurting your car? That depends on how diligent you are about maintaining your car.

As with most vehicle parts, car batteries have limited lifespans. Even the best batteries eventually fail and need to be replaced. Before you assume your best bet is to head to the local auto parts store to buy a car battery, think again. There are several key advantages of having an auto technician replace your battery.

When it comes to necessary yet affordable preventive maintenance for your vehicle, you may rank an oil change service at the top of your list. Unless, that is, you have brought your car in for an oil change recently and discovered the recommended oil most vehicle manufacturers are moving toward is not exactly “cheap.” Before you shun the recommendations, though, take time to learn why car makers recommend pricier oil. It will save you money in the long run.

You may be under the impression occasionally adding antifreeze and water to your radiator to replace evaporated fluid is all the maintenance your car’s cooling system needs. If so, you’re wrong. Like all vehicle components, the cooling system needs preventive maintenance. This important service is called a coolant flush. Your engine relies on a steady flow of antifreeze to keep it at optimal operating temperature. Your car’s cooling system is what protects it from temperature extremes so it will run as reliably in subzero temperatures and in triple-digit temperatures as it does on a balmy spring day. Even if you live in an area not typically subject to extreme temperatures, your vehicle’s cooling system still needs regular service to keep your engine operating as intended.

Most people are aware updating their homes can increase value, but did you know there are ways to improve comfort and safety to your vehicle, as well as improve its resale value? Whether you intend to sell your car soon or you plan to keep it for the foreseeable future, these tips for selling your used car can be useful in helping you boost the amount of money you can expect.

Despite the fact half the drivers on the road are women, there’s a huge disparity in women’s car knowledge compared to men’s. We could speculate and debate about the reasons why that’s the case. Instead, we at DeBoer's Auto understood the importance of educating women about their cars and decided to do something to help change that. When it comes to any subject, the more you know, the more confident you are. On Saturday, October 17th, we presented a two-hour seminar designed to familiarize women with their cars so they’ll be more confident drivers and consumers.

A decade or so ago, shopping for motor oil was fairly straightforward because few options were available. Essentially, all you needed to know was what viscosity your car required (5W-30, for instance) and you were all set. Since then, cars have changed and motor oil has changed with them. Today, many car makers have unique oil specifications (special blends they require to be used in their vehicles). General Motors’ newest generation of oil specifications, Dexos, is a consolidation of five previously-recommended oil specifications for GM vehicles. 

If you’re like many car owners, you enjoy paying off your vehicle and then holding onto it for awhile, sans car payments. Or maybe you dread the often-stressful car-buying process and prefer to keep your vehicle as long as possible for that reason. Considering most manufacturer’s original warranties protect you anywhere from three to 10 years, or between 35,000 and 100,000 miles, you may be tempted to purchase an extended warranty if you plan to keep your car beyond those parameters. Before you sign on the dotted line, though, be aware of the following pros and cons of extended warranties.