When you buy a luxury car, the high expenses don’t stop with the initial purchase. The cost of owning a luxury car over time is significantly higher than the cost of owning an economy vehicle. At the pump, luxury cars require premium grade gas, and when it comes to repairs (as you might already know) the cost to replace parts is significantly higher than that of their non-luxury counterparts.
The reason luxury car parts are more expensive is because of the material that they’re made from. When purchasing an expensive luxury car, manufacturers justify the price by using premium materials to build the engine, the chassis, the interior, and the rest of the vehicle—even keys are typically more expensive.
In the Case of an Accident
If you’ve been in an accident and made sure that everyone involved is safe and uninjured, the next step is to figure out what to do with the vehicle. If it’s bad enough and the car is not in drivable condition, you’re either going to get it towed to a dealer, a specialty mechanic, or to your home. This is when the fees start racking up and you have some important choices to make.
Research a Mechanic
If you were sick, wouldn’t you want to be treated by the best doctor that you could see? The same logic applies when you’re searching for a mechanic for your luxury car. By looking on sites like AutoNation, you can identify which mechanic in your area is most highly-rated, and which is the best to take care of your make and model.
If your luxury car is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, it might be wise to get in contact with the carmaker and see which mechanic they recommend in your area. 9 times out of 10, this is your best option. If they point you in the direction of a “certified auto repair” shop, you’ve found the best place to go.
Specified Mechanics
If you bring your vehicle into a certified auto repair shop, the mechanics there have been trained and licensed to repair cars made by a specific manufacturer. Their technicians are required to work on cars for a several years before they’re even allowed to take the tests that grant them certification. After they take and pass these tests, they’ve proven their extensive, specialized knowledge, and can apply their specified training in order to service your car in the most comprehensive way possible.
If, for example, you bring your Audi to an Audi service near Chicago, the technicians there know that they’ve been entrusted by both you and the dealer to make the correct repairs—the continuation of their certifications depend on it.
For you, as the luxury car owner, the stakes are rather high. Parts are very expensive, and if you’ve driven your luxury car past the warranty it’s possible that a significant part of the repair fees are going to come out of your pocket. By going to technicians who receive continuous training, you’re making in an investment in the future of your car, and making the wisest decision for your bank account.
Ask All of the Appropriate Questions
When you get your car to one of these certified repair shops, ask the technicians specific questions about the damage to your vehicle. Figure out what went wrong and make sure that when you receive printouts, the damage to your car is reflected accurately in the paperwork. These little precautions matter, because if you ever want to put your car on the resale market you’re going to have to be able to furnish all of the relevant details to the car’s damage history.
Once It’s Out
After you’ve retrieved your car from the body shop, drive it around for a while and make a close inspection of everything that was fixed. If you are hearing strange noises, or notice anything else that seems out of the ordinary, take it back immediately. It’s better to fix all of the problems with your luxury car at one time instead of dragging out a repair process, which might deprive you of a car for much longer than you would like.