In most American cities, the car is the only legal means of transportation, meaning your own four-wheeler is the most efficient way for you to get to work, to the store, to social events, and to all your other responsibilities. So, when your car breaks down, you need to fix it fast.
But, despite the powerful magic most mechanics can perform, not all car problems can be fixed – at least not in a way that will work for you. The next time your engine won’t start, you could easily be stuck with an irreparably damaged car in your hands and not know what to do. Here are some solutions to some of the common unrecoverable problems you may have with your car.
When You Can’t Fix
There’s no way around it: Cars are expensive. Ignoring the huge cost of buying a car, expenses like auto insurance, registration fees, and gas can easily cost you money. Unfortunately, unexpected repairs usually don’t come cheap, especially when your car is no longer under the manufacturer’s warranty and you have to send your car to a repair shop. Ideally, you will have an emergency savings account to pay for expensive surprises like these, but even if they don’t, there are alternative ways to pay for the repairs needed.
First, you should contact your insurance company. Many plans cover the cost of repairs, especially if they are caused by some type of crash. Unfortunately, you must meet your deductible before insurance begins, which requires spending several thousand dollars. If this doesn’t work, you can try contacting another auto-related organization you can join, such as AAA or AARP, both of which offer plans with motor vehicle benefits. Even some credit card providers offer perks like roadside assistance and guarantees for repairs – but these don’t give you permission to use your credit card carelessly.
When It Keeps Breaking
You just fixed your car’s last problem, and now it’s broken again, maybe even to the same problem. One car repair is annoying enough, but when you can’t seem to get ahead of your car maintenance, simply leave it on the side of the road and buy a bike instead.
There are only a few reasons a car can keep stalling. First, your car may reach a certain age or mileage. Even with an excellent maintenance schedule, few cars make it past 100,000 miles. After that much wear and tear, dozens of parts need replacing, which means you can be in and out of the workshop for quite a while. Maybe it’s time to ditch your battered old car and get something newer and more reliable.
Another option is that you unknowingly bought a lemon. Though precision Lemon laws depend on your state, the typical lemon is a car with a dangerous or damaging problem that persists after three or more trips to the mechanic in just a few years of purchase. If you can prove that your car is a lemon, you should find legal representation so you can offset your losses and get a vehicle that won’t keep breaking down.
When It Gets Too Broken
Perhaps the most disappointing scenario is when you take your car to a repair shop only to find out that the problem is impossible to solve. Maybe the mechanic just doesn’t know how to fix your broken car or the damage is so basic to your car’s existence that there’s no point trying to patch it. Problems like blown pistons, bent frames, and separated head gaskets take so much time and money to fix that you should probably buy a new car.
However, before you give up on your clunker, you need to make sure your mechanic’s diagnosis is accurate. First, you should get a second opinion from another mechanic in your area – ideally one with a good rating and extensive experience. If a second mechanic says the same thing, it may be time to start considering options for your dead vehicle.
You may not believe it, but many car dealerships accept damaged cars in exchange for trade credit. Since you need a new car after all, this is probably your best bet, although you will need to take your clunker to the dealer. Or, you can donate your car to charity. Several charitable organizations are happy to accept large donations under any circumstances, as they have the infrastructure to sell your auto part or flip it for a profit. Just because your car isn’t running doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value to everyone, which means you can still use it to your advantage.
