Owning a car can be costly. Not only do you have to worry about the costs that go along with paying your car payment, but you also have to worry about insurance, gas, maintenance, and repairs. If you are like many car owners, however, there is a chance that you are paying more for your auto repairs than you have to. These are a few signs that this might be the case and that it might be time to make some changes so that you can save money on car ownership.

1. You Don't Shop Around

You might like being loyal to just one mechanic, but going to one shop all the time can cause you to pay more for certain maintenance tasks and repairs. Some shops charge less for certain jobs than others, so it always pays to get a couple of estimates before having the job done.

2. You Don't Look for Coupons

Depending on where you are going to have your car maintained or repaired, there might be coupons out there for you to take advantage of. Make sure that you check the repair shop's website and social media pages to look for any coupons that might be available, and get on the company's mailing list if it has one. Additionally, checking your local newspaper and other local advertisements can also help you find coupons for local auto repair shops.

3. You Always Choose New, OEM Parts

Even though you might sometimes be required to buy original equipment manufacturer parts, such as if you have a newer car that is still under warranty, you should be looking into other options if this is not the case. For example, you might find that buying aftermarket parts can save you a lot of money without requiring you to sacrifice quality. In some cases, buying used parts from an auto salvage yard can be a good way to save money as well.

4. You Don't Use Your Warranty

If your car is under warranty, it's always a good idea to check to see if a repair will be covered by the warranty before paying for it yourself. This can help you save a lot of money on repairs. Just make sure that you do what you need to do in order to keep your warranty valid, such as by keeping your maintenance records and following your manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule for your vehicle.