AAA: Drivers Struggle to Pay Car Repair

Most residents in the Hermosa Beach area spend the majority of a day in their cars (come on, this is L.A. territory), but due to tough economic times, many of them can't pay for auto repairs or maintenance, according to a new AAA survey released this month.

Drivers across the country were polled and the survey found:

• One in four American drivers could not pay for a car repair of $2,000 if faced with one now.
• More than half of drivers are keeping older vehicles to avoid the financial burden of buying a newer model.
• One in eight drivers would be unable to pay for a repair bill of $1,000.

"The fact that motorists are delaying maintenance on their cars in the current economy is not surprising," said the Auto Club of Southern California’s Auto Repair Program Development Manager Dave Skaien in a statement on Aug. 2.

"But what they may not realize is that there’s a direct correlation between poorly maintained cars and big repair bills," he added. Delaying maintenance could result in more expensive car repairs or even reduced fuel economy, he said.

Repair costs for a vehicle varies depending on its make, model and type. But an average transmission repair could cost between $2,000 and $4,000, according to AAA.

An engine repair could exceed $5,000. Major brake repairs could range from $350 to $1,000, and a new set of tires could range from $300 to more than $1,000.

If faced with these costs, 38 percent of drivers surveyed said that they could pay for a $2,000 repair bill with funds in a savings account. Twenty percent said that they would pay with a credit card, and 11 percent would need to borrow the money.

Slightly more Americans reported being able to pay for a $1,000 repair bill—46 percent said they could use their savings and 22 percent would use a credit card while 14 percent would borrow the money.

Due to the troubling economy, Skaien said that it's "important for drivers to not only continue to maintain their vehicles, but also to have a financial emergency plan in place should they be faced with a sudden unexpected auto repair bill."