As the owner of a foreign car, you have probably accepted higher car part prices as being inevitable. However, you should know that foreign car parts don't always have to be costly. There are a few ways that you can save money on these parts, so look for the following signs that you have been paying more than you have to. Then, you can start making changes to make foreign car maintenance and repair a little more affordable.

1. You Never Buy Aftermarket Parts

You might assume that aftermarket parts aren't the best thing for your vehicle, but they are still required to fit the same standards as any other part. With the host of aftermarket parts that are out there, they are generally more easily available and more affordable than the foreign car parts that you purchase from the manufacturer. Since some car manufacturers void their warranties if aftermarket parts are used, you might want to avoid this option if you find this language in your warranty information or if you have a newer car. For older vehicles or fixes that won't affect your warranty, however, aftermarket parts can be great for helping you save money.

2. You Assume You Can't Find Anything at a Salvage Yard

Don't assume that all of the cars at a salvage yard are old and completely worn out. Some vehicles end up in the salvage yard because they were wrecked, but many of them still have working, like-new parts. Calling around to your local salvage yards to look for a used part is always a good option, especially if you are replacing a very costly part in your vehicle, such as a motor or transmission.

3. You Don't Take Your Car to a Foreign Car Repair Shop

You might think that you will pay the lowest repair costs if you take your car to a regular mechanic rather than to a foreign car repair shop, but the opposite is often true. Foreign car repair shops generally have strong working relationships with the manufacturers that sell foreign car parts, which means that they can often score a better deal. Then, many of them will pass these savings on to you by offering them to you for a reasonable rate. Plus, you can often save on labor charges when hiring a foreign car mechanic, since he or she will have experience working with your type of car and probably won't take as long to fix it as regular mechanics might.

If you are like many foreign car owners, there is a good chance that you are paying more for your car parts than you have to. These are just three signs that it's time to make changes so that you can save when buying the parts you need to keep your foreign vehicle in good condition. For more information about foreign car repair, you might wish to speak with a representative from Dave's Import Repair.