DIY car repairs: Aussies servicing their own cars to save money

When I think of DIY car repairs, Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor vibes come at me.

For anyone born after the 90s, or those unfamiliar with popular 90s sitcom Home Improvement, this is a reference to the accident-prone DIY-er Tim Taylor (played by Tim Allen), who managed to break/set fire to/ruin/ blow up most of the odd jobs he attempted.

Based on this, and given I can't even change a tyre, the likelihood of me embracing DIY car repairs is low, but for one in five Australians (19 per cent), this is not the case.

According to recent research by price comparison site Finder, an estimated 3.9 million Aussies are servicing their own cars to save money. What's more, a further 12 per cent of Australians – 2.5 million people – have admitted to doing their own car maintenance in the past 1-5 years to delay needing to visit a mechanic.

40-year-old Andrew Priobrazhenskiy is one of them.

“The high cost of living crisis has meant I've been no stranger to the experience of not paying top dollar for having my car serviced and running as it should,” he says.

For Priobrazhenskiy this meant opting to repair what he describes as a minor brake issue, himself.

“It was out to visit a professional mechanic and I decided to handle the problem by myself,” he says.

“I took an early weekend to learn from YouTube videos and purchased the parts I needed along with the tools, subsequently saving me hundreds of dollars in labour. Not only that, but it was cheaper for me to do it myself rather than bring it to the mechanic and it taught me a lot about how my car works, and I had a sense of accomplishment.”

While saving money was the main reason for Priobrazhenskiy and most Australians, including 29 per cent of Gen Z, 23 per cent of Gen Y, 19 per cent of Gen X and seven per cent of baby boomers, others (six per cent) opted to pop the hood because cars are one of their hobbies or passions.

Priobrazhenskiy believes that this decision has worked out well, with his efforts resulting in an effectively running car and a sense of accomplishment. But Tim Bennett, insurance expert at Finder doesn’t encourage everyone to start doing their own car repairs.

“While drivers are understandably trying to save money, repairing, or maintaining your car incorrectly can be a costly mistake," says Bennett.

"Ditching the mechanic for a quick DIY car service can turn out to be much more expensive in the long run and in some cases dangerous."

According to Bennett, some areas of your car that should only ever be serviced or repaired by a professional mechanic include steering and suspension systems, or the very area Priobrazhenskiy undertook his repairs on, the braking system.

“Don't attempt repairs on a car unless you have extensive mechanical experience," Bennett says.

Not only could they present a safety issue but also void your insurance.

“Any changes you make to your car, especially if they affect performance or handling, can impact your insurance,” he says. 

Additionally, if you make a mistake while repairing your car and it causes further damage, especially if that damage relates to a future accident, your insurer might deny a claim.

“It's important to declare any modifications to your insurer to ensure you're covered. Undisclosed modifications can void your insurance in case of an accident,” Bennett says.

For those who would like to save some coin or get a bit more hands-on there are some basic car maintenance tasks you can complete on a regular basis that can minimise the costs of your regular car service, Bennett explains.

“Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid all need to be at proper levels. Your owner's manual will tell you how to check and top them up. And regularly check your tyre pressures and tread depth. Maintaining proper pressure improves fuel efficiency and safety.”