A recent study by CarMD shows that automobile repair costs rose 2.7% over the past year, with engine-related repairs being the most common. Along with advances in technology that require specialized labor, design patents held by car companies prevent them from using generic brands, factors which have contributed to the rising cost of repairs.

1. Preventive
Automobile
Maintenance Is
More Cost-
Efficient,
Studies Show
Certified Automotive

2. A recent study by CarMD shows that automobile repair costs rose 2.7% over the past year, with engine-related
repairs being the most common. Along with advances in technology that require specialized labor, design
patents held by car companies prevent them from using generic brands, factors which have contributed to the
rising cost of repairs.
While most of your car issues can be addressed with reactive maintenance, preventive maintenance is able to
mitigate future issues more efficiently.
Preventive vs. Reactive
Reactive maintenance is a type of maintenance that is applied only when a particular situation has already
arisen. Basically, reactive maintenance fixes a problem that is already present. While this usually translates to
less initial expense, over time and as your car ages and presents more and more issues, the cost-efficiency of
reactive maintenance decreases.
Preventive maintenance, on the other hand, is a type of maintenance that seeks to minimize and mitigate
issues prior to them happening. Preventive maintenance is used by the U.S Navy for its seagoing vessels, for
instance, and numerous studies have shown that vehicles that have had preventive maintenance save between
12 to 18% in costs, as compared to reactively maintained vehicles.

3. Averting Issues for the Long-Term
While preventive maintenance cannot eliminate all possible scenarios of machine failure, it goes a long way in
averting as many issues as possible. Extending the lifespan of any piece of machinery is not only dependent
on use and care, but also on the maintenance dictates of the manufacturer.
Preventive maintenance would initially be more expensive than reactive maintenance, since it would require
regularly servicing the components of a particular machine. However, it is an investment that pays off, in the
long run, if it’s able to prevent critical failures.
A completely reactive maintenance program would be detrimental to the overall lifespan of a machine
because it would be unable to address wear-out issues, which rapidly decreases a machines design life, over
time.
Having a preventive maintenance program, however, more efficiently targets issues before they happen,
specifically because of the constant, periodic check-ups. This process helps minimize wear-and-tear of
mechanical parts, as well as ensures that all mechanical processes operate at the intended level of efficiency.

4. Resources:
https://www.certifiedauto.info
https://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/OM_5.pdf
https://www.carmd.com/wp/vehicle-health-index-introduction/2017-carmd-vehicle-health-index/
https://newrepublic.com/article/122820/infuriating-reason-car-repairs-are-so-expensive