DIY Car Maintenance: What You Can Do Yourself
FriendsWithTools.io earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. We do not test these tools ourselves — all claims are sourced from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings, and aggregated user reviews, each linked inline. Prices and ratings were verified on April 2026 and may have changed.
An oil change at a shop costs $50 to $100. Doing it yourself costs $25 to $35 in parts and takes 30 minutes. Multiply that across every routine maintenance task over a car's lifetime, and DIY maintenance saves thousands. Here are the tasks sorted by difficulty, with the tools each one requires.
Beginner (No Experience Needed)
Wiper blade replacement. Tools: none (some require a small flathead screwdriver). Time: 5 minutes. Cost: $15 to $30 for a pair. Shops charge $25 to $50 for the same blades plus installation. Wipers should be replaced every 6 to 12 months.
Air filter replacement. Tools: none (most just unclip the housing). Time: 5 minutes. Cost: $10 to $20. Shops charge $25 to $50. Replace every 15,000 to 30,000 miles or when it looks dirty.
Cabin air filter replacement. Tools: sometimes a Phillips screwdriver. Time: 10 minutes. Cost: $10 to $25. Shops charge $30 to $70. Usually behind the glove box. Replace every 15,000 to 20,000 miles.
Battery terminal cleaning. Tools: wire brush ($5), wrench (10mm usually). Time: 15 minutes. Corroded terminals cause no-start conditions. Clean the posts and terminals, apply dielectric grease, and retighten. This fixes many mysterious starting problems.
Tire pressure check and fill. Tools: tire pressure gauge ($5 to $15). Time: 10 minutes for all four tires. Check monthly. Correct pressure is on the driver's door jamb sticker, not on the tire sidewall (that is the maximum). Under-inflated tires waste gas and wear unevenly. Over-inflated tires have reduced grip.
Intermediate (Basic Tool Skills)
Oil change. Tools: socket or wrench for drain plug (varies by car, usually 14 to 17mm), oil filter wrench, drain pan, funnel, jack and jack stands (if the car sits low). Time: 30 to 45 minutes. Cost: $25 to $35 for oil + filter. The task: warm the engine, drain the old oil, replace the filter, refill with new oil, check the level. The most common DIY car task.
Brake pad replacement. Tools: lug wrench, jack, jack stands, socket set, C-clamp (to compress the caliper piston), brake cleaner spray. Time: 1 to 2 hours per axle. Cost: $30 to $70 per axle in parts. Shops charge $150 to $300 per axle. This is the highest-value DIY car task by dollar savings.
Battery replacement. Tools: wrench (10mm usually), sometimes a battery hold-down bracket bolt. Time: 15 minutes. Cost: $80 to $200 for a battery. Shops charge $150 to $300 installed. Some auto parts stores install for free if you buy the battery there.
Spark plug replacement. Tools: spark plug socket (5/8 or 13/16 inch), ratchet with extension, gap gauge, anti-seize compound. Time: 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on engine access. Cost: $15 to $40 for a set. Shops charge $100 to $300. Replace every 30,000 to 100,000 miles depending on plug type.
Tire rotation. Tools: lug wrench, jack, jack stands (or two jacks). Time: 30 to 45 minutes. Cost: free. Shops charge $20 to $50. Rotate every 5,000 to 7,500 miles for even wear. Front to back on the same side for most front-wheel-drive cars.
Advanced (Experience Recommended)
Brake rotor replacement. Tools: same as pad replacement plus a torque wrench for the caliper bracket bolts. Rotors slide on and off once the caliper and bracket are removed. Cost: $30 to $80 per rotor plus pads. Time: 2 to 3 hours per axle.
Coolant flush. Tools: drain pan, pliers (for hose clamps), funnel. Time: 1 hour. Cost: $15 to $25 in coolant. The task: drain the old coolant from the radiator petcock, flush with water, refill with the correct coolant-to-water ratio (usually 50/50). Use the coolant type specified in your owner's manual.
Serpentine belt replacement. Tools: socket set, belt routing diagram (under the hood or in the manual), and a long-handle ratchet or belt tensioner tool to release the tensioner. Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour. Cost: $20 to $40 for the belt. Shops charge $100 to $200.
Headlight bulb replacement. Difficulty varies wildly by car. Some cars: twist the socket, pull the old bulb, push in the new one, done in 5 minutes. Other cars: remove the entire bumper to access the headlight housing. Check a YouTube video for your specific make and model before starting.
Leave It to the Shop
Timing belt/chain replacement. Requires precise timing alignment. Getting it wrong bends valves ($2,000+ in engine damage). This is a 4 to 8 hour job even for professionals.
Transmission work. Fluid changes are DIY-able on some vehicles, but internal transmission repair requires specialized tools, knowledge, and a clean environment.
AC system repair. Refrigerant handling requires EPA 608 certification. The gauges, vacuum pump, and refrigerant recovery equipment cost more than the repair at a shop.
Wheel alignment. Requires a professional alignment rack. No amount of DIY tools replaces the precision of a computerized alignment machine. Get an alignment after any suspension work or tire replacement.
Anything you're not comfortable with. The internet makes everything look easy. If you're halfway through a brake job and realize you're not sure what you're doing, stop. Reassemble what you took apart and drive (carefully, if brakes are involved) to a shop. A half-finished car repair is more dangerous than the original problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I dispose of used oil and coolant?
Most auto parts stores (AutoZone, O'Reilly, Advance Auto Parts, NAPA) accept used motor oil and coolant for free. Pour the used oil into the containers the new oil came in and bring them to the store. Never pour used oil or coolant down a drain, into the ground, or in the trash. Used oil from a single oil change can contaminate a million gallons of water.
What tools do I need to start doing my own car maintenance?
A basic socket set (3/8-inch drive, metric and SAE), a torque wrench, a floor jack with jack stands, an oil drain pan, and a set of combination wrenches. Total investment: $100 to $150 for decent quality. This covers oil changes, brake pads, tire rotation, and most routine maintenance. Add an OBD-II scanner ($30 to $100) for reading check-engine codes.