Taking your car to a mechanic can be a pricy ordeal.

Its no wonder car owners dread trips to the auto repair shop.

Well, it may not be as difficult as you may think.

Girl checks the oil in the car’s engine

And you’ve got the option to potentially save hundreds of dollars.

Probably not as good as youd like.

It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.

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But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?

Ask one of these companies to help…

The manuals are sold at auto-parts stores and online.

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Haynes publishes both print and digital manuals, including guidebooks under the brandsChiltonandClymer.

A rare situation, but it illustrates the importance of identifying model-specific differences.

2009 Toyota Camry

The Haynes editors saidFord F-150 owners could save $975.18.

But parts at a dealer also can be more expensive than getting the parts yourself at an auto-parts retailer.

Gain Knowledge That Lasts

Its one thing to save money on a one-time expense.

Its another to possess the knowledge necessary to continue saving money over a lifetime.

One of Haynes vice presidents recently replaced the brakes on his Camaro, Forsythe said.

The dealer, in this case, was trying to take advantage of him, but he knew better.

Possessing automotive-repair knowledge is empowering, he said.

Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.

(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)

You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…