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AZ Collision Repair Reports Californians Pay More to Fix Their Cars

The next time you feel a bit dismayed by the cost of your vehicle maintenance, just be thankful you do not live in one of our neighboring states. AZ Collision Repair recently found that the average Californian driver, who is already plagued with crazy traffic and lengthy commutes, pays some of the most expensive vehicle repair bills associated with the check engine light. Averaging a whopping $438 in repairs that stem from a lit check engine light, California’s repair costs are the fourth most expensive in the country according to CarMD. This is right behind New Jersey ($447), Delaware ($451), and Washington D.C. ($467).

CarMD, a software provider for the average vehicle’s diagnostic data and the source of this price average information, reported there are a number of factors that can lead to these more expensive costs. Most people would assume that living in a state notorious for an expensive cost of living, more expensive bills such as these repair costs ought to be expected. While that may be a small factor that cannot be entirely disputed, it is not the sole reason as determined by CarMD. What did AZ Collision Repair find as the reasoning for the higher cost? Prolonging repairs when your check engine light turns on, which is enough to make any repair technician cringe.

The technicians for AZ Collision Repair recommend having your vehicle checked within a short time period after the check engine light turns on. Why? If you prolong having a diagnostics test performed on your vehicle for what could have been a simple fix, it could lead to more expensive issues and reduce the performance on your vehicle. One example is if the spark plugs need replacing. If you wait to have this taken care of, the least of your worries would be lower fuel economy or reduced power. However, a worn spark plug that doesn’t get replaced could eventually cause damage to the oxygen sensor and the catalytic converter which would lead to a very pricey bill you want to avoid. In fact, CarMD reported that spark plug repair accounted for 25% of car repairs in 2014.

Thankfully, AZ Collision Repair is pleased to report that the average car repair for Arizonans was much lower than that for California residents. We pay an average of $396 for repairs, which is right around the national average and also $27 lower than the average for other Western states. However, if you want to avoid paying more, remember to have a diagnostics test performed in order to determine the issue and have it corrected. You can do this on your own by using a small diagnostic tool that you can order online or you can choose to have it performed by your local collision repair center, such as AZ Collision Repair. The benefit of choosing the latter option is you could have the repair completed right away, which would be especially helpful for more complicated repairs.