Taking care of your vehicle costs money, and that's true even if it's under warranty. That warranty, even if it's bumper-to-bumper (comprehensive), doesn't pay for normal wear and tear items. Things like oil changes, transmission fluid changes, air and cabin filters, wiper blades, brakes, tires, etc. are all out-of-pocket costs for the car owner, and they aren't issues covered under warranty. But then you go to the dealership and you feel like you should pay for the litany of services listed under “recommended” because if you don't, something could go wrong. So, we try to answer the question, “Should I pay for scheduled inspections?” when you bring your car to the dealership.
Should You Be Intimidated?
When you go to the dealership, actually even when you schedule an oil change or something else routine like tire rotation, you can select the services you want performed. It can be done piecemeal or whole hog in a package deal. It's not unusual for a dealer's service department to give you a whole list of what's recommended for your vehicle based on its year and mileage. That list can be dizzying or it can be pretty straightforward. Here's just an example:
- Inspect tires
- Inspect throttle body
- Inspect for leaks and damages
- Inspect brakes
- Inspect exhaust system
- Replace spark plugs
- Replace timing belt
- Replace steering rack fluid
- Replace brake pads
To most car owners, a list like this can be like a foreign language. The likelihood that the average consumer even looks under the hood is slim to none. To take advantage of that, many service department say things like, “Let's take care of that as part of routine maintenance to make sure your car is in great condition” or “You should do that while you're already here.” They also capitalize on the fact that you've taking time off from work to get your oil changed, so why not do more?
The service advisor will ask your car's mileage if they didn't already have that info. Then, they'll say, “Oh, you have about 28,000 miles on the odometer. It's time for your 30,000-mile inspection. That inspection is typically a conglomeration of many of the aforementioned tasks, not all of which involve physical replacements but inspections only. In fact, many lower mileage inspections don't replace anything but fluids, and that's minimal work.
What Does an Inspection Mean?
It's exactly what it says. They simply take a look at things, but they charge you for that “look”. Do you even know if they do it? No, you don't. You have to trust that they did it. We're not saying everyone lies about it, but don't be surprised if they just don't show you. What are you going to do, stand under the car to make sure they do what they promise? No, you sit in the waiting area, look at your phone, and eat a complimentary bag of pretzels.
Even if the do inspect something like brake pad wear, do you know how much pad life you have left? No, no you don't. They might say, 'You have less than 50 percent of brake pad left. I would get that replaced so you're not grinding the rotors. You have a lot of time before that happens, really. It's not urgent because it should be more like 10 percent remaining. Ask them to show you first. When it comes to tires, you can even check tread life yourself. All you need is a penny to determine how much remains on your tires. Go do this before you head to the dealership so you know you're educated on it. Just make sure you check on your own before you let the dealer's service department decide for you. Also, refuse to pay for things you can inspect yourself. You have the ability to check brake pads and tire wear on your own. It's not difficult and could save you money. Don't take the dealership's word for it.
What Should You Pay for the Service Department to Replace?
Much of it depends on what you can do yourself. For instance, you should never pay money to have wiper blades replaced. It will cost you less than $30 to replace all of your car's wipers, but the dealership might charge you twice that. If they say your brake pads need to be replaced, ask them to show you the pads on the car. Be a smart consumer, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
Spark plugs rarely need to be replaced in modern cars. Platinum spark plugs will go 100,000 miles without needing a replacement. A fan belt won't need to be changed for between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. Depending on the tire brand and model you have on your car, those will last at least a few years if you rotate them and drive calmly. The point is, don't go based on the dealer recommendations. Instead, take the time to record and track everything. If you care more about your time, and you have enough funds to throw at it, just follow their recommendations.