Each year, there are consumer reports that offer us information on the most reliable cars. Japanese car makers often top the list for both used and new models. In many cases, imported products are often noted for their high reliability, because manufacturers need to compete with local makers. By checking consumer reports, we should have immediate approximation on the type of car that we should choose.

These reports are made based on data compiled from various interviews among car owners and specialists. They have specific data collection methods and we should pay attention on how it is performed.

Many of us don’t really think when was the last time we put oil in the car engine, if it wasn’t for that small sticky plastic attached on the windshield. Consumer Reports say that many import cars that are less than 3 years old have higher reliability than the German and brand new domestic models. In general, we should still be able to achieve the same level of reliability if we follow the proper service schedule. There are actions that we may need to do to make sure that the car can be relied for our daily usages. We should have a plan of actions that we need to do. This will save money in the long run.

In general, we may ask the mechanic to call us when it is time to maintain our car. These mechanics have their own database system and notifications will be displayed before the date of maintenance is due. All essential maintenance tasks for our car should be included in the To-Do list, so we will be able to save money.

In general, independent mechanics will be able to provide more affordable services than those from chain stores, such as Wal Mart Service Center, Goodyear Service Center, Pep Boys and others. However, we should make sure that all chain store, dealer and independent mechanics are certified by the local authority.

For many car owners it can be challenging to determine the cost of annual maintenance, but it should be much lower than allowing our car to broke down due to improper maintenance. There are maintenance procedures that should be included in the recommended schedule. In this case, we should try to achieve our reliability potential. There are things we could do to find reliable independent mechanics in the market. AllData provide direct OEM data and it could become our preferred source. The Mitchell Guide is also a reliable source if we want to find a reliable independent mechanic.

For many car owners, it’s very easy to lose track of time and find excuses on postponing car maintenance, especially when they are incredibly busy. Without immediate maintenance, internal components will degrade much faster and serious malfunction may eventually occur. A good maintenance will save us money and time. Our final goal is to achieve the long-term reliability and to save money. With enough care, our car should last much longer.