We tend to take our vehicles for granted as we drive them through mud, leave them out in the rain, and continue pushing back that next oil change. I for one am a firm believer that if you take care of your vehicle, it will take care of you — plus it will save you money in the long run!

It Isn’t Easy Being a Car

While American-made Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler vehicles are all built with durability and quality in mind, it falls on the owner to ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained. It is estimated that vehicle neglect costs the nation over 2 billion dollars a year — over 650 million of that is lost in wages every year. Vehicle neglect costs the insurance administration nearly an additional $500 million per year. Taking care of your vehicles by repairing damages and performing regular maintenance can decrease spending costs and allow owners to get the most out of their vehicles. As a collective, we all have room to improve as the National Car Maintenance Index found that Americans have an average of 76 out of 100 — a perfect score means that all prescribed maintenance tasks are completed in a timely manner.

Trusting Only OEM Parts Specialists

Unless you have a knack for custom projects, it is recommended that original equipment manufacturer parts be used for replacement. Technicians regularly choose a preferred supplier primarily due to parts availability as OEM suppliers are able to secure the exact specifications for any standard part. Replacing your Ram with genuine Dodge parts may cost more, but those genuine Dodge parts are guaranteed to be compatible with your vehicle and usually come with a standard one-year warranty. Since body shops do not have to indicate to a customer when aftermarket parts will be used in 21 states, it falls on vehicle owners to ensure that their repairs are made using only the best OEM equipment.