Easy Car Jobs You Can DIY to Save You Money – let’s take a look!
Regtransfers have produced some excellent, helpful content around “10 Car Jobs You Can Do Yourself” which I think you might find super helpful.
Let’s be honest, a lot of us hand our cars over to a mechanic for jobs that are actually much simpler than we think. Whether it’s because we’re busy or just not confident having a go ourselves, it’s easy to end up paying for something that could take ten minutes and cost next to nothing.
With the cost of living still biting, every little saving helps. The good news is there are quite a few routine car maintenance jobs you can do yourself without needing a trip to the garage.
This guide, based on information from private registrations supplier Regtransfers, covers ten straightforward car jobs you can tackle at home. They’re listed from the easiest to the more involved jobs, starting with replacing a number plate and ending with changing a car battery.
One important thing to mention before we start: changing a wheel is not the same as changing a tyre. We’ll explain the difference later.
Also, anything involving brakes, steering, suspension, airbags, or other safety-critical parts should always be left to qualified professionals.
Easy Car Jobs You Can DIY to Save You Money
1. Replace a Number Plate
Difficulty: Very easy
Time: Around 10 minutes
Potential saving: £30–£50
Garages can charge between £30 and £50 to fit a number plate, but it’s a simple job that usually takes about ten minutes.
Number plates can crack, fade in the sun, or become damaged over time. A badly damaged plate could cause an MOT failure, and if it’s difficult to read, you could even face a fine.
What you’ll need
- Replacement number plates
- Phillips screwdriver (if fitted with screws)
- Flat-head screwdriver for removing plastic screw caps
- Nothing extra if your plates use adhesive pads
How to do it
- Remove the old plate by undoing the screws or carefully peeling away adhesive pads.
- Clean any leftover adhesive and wipe down the mounting area.
- Fit the new plate, making sure it’s straight before tightening screws or pressing adhesive firmly into place.
What the law says
UK number plates must meet BS AU 145e standards. That includes using the correct Charles Wright font, black characters only, and the correct background colours (white front, yellow rear). The age identifier must not make the vehicle appear newer than it is. Tinted plates are illegal, while solid black 4D characters are allowed.
2. Replace Windscreen Wiper Blades
Difficulty: Very easy
Time: 5–10 minutes
Potential saving: £20–£40
Worn wiper blades are one of the easiest MOT failures to avoid. Thankfully, they’re also one of the simplest things to replace.
Most modern blades simply clip on and off.
How to do it
- Lift the wiper arm away from the windscreen.
- Press the release tab and slide the old blade off.
- Slide the new blade on until it clicks into place.
- Carefully lower the arm and repeat on the other side.
Always check the new blades are compatible with your specific car before ordering.
3. Check and Top Up Fluid Levels
Difficulty: Very easy
Time: Around 10 minutes
Potential saving: £15–£30
You don’t need to be a mechanic to check your car’s fluids. Most reservoirs are clearly marked under the bonnet.
What to check
- Engine oil: Check with the engine cold and the car on level ground.
- Coolant: Use the correct type and avoid mixing different colours.
- Brake fluid: Keep it between the minimum and maximum marks.
- Power steering fluid: Only applies to older hydraulic systems.
- Screenwash: Use proper screenwash solution rather than plain water.
Most fluids only need topping up occasionally. If you’re constantly refilling one, it’s worth getting the car checked professionally.
4. Change the Cabin Air Filter
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 10–15 minutes
Potential saving: £20–£40
The cabin filter cleans the air coming through your vents. When it gets clogged, airflow drops and the car can start to smell stale.
Most cabin filters are located behind the glove box and can be changed without tools.
How to do it
- Open the glove box and lower it fully.
- Remove the old filter.
- Check which way the airflow arrow points.
- Fit the new filter in the same direction.
- Reassemble everything.
If your heating or air conditioning smells musty, this could be the fix.
5. Replace a Blown Fuse
Difficulty: Easy
Time: Around 10 minutes
Potential saving: £10–£25
If something electrical suddenly stops working, a blown fuse is often the culprit.
How to do it
- Locate the fuse box using the diagram on the lid.
- Remove the suspected fuse using the puller tool.
- Check for a broken metal strip inside.
- Replace it with a fuse of exactly the same rating.
- Test the system.
Never replace a fuse with a higher-rated one. If the new fuse blows straight away, it’s time for a garage visit.
6. Replace a Bulb
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Time: 15 minutes to over an hour
Potential saving: £30–£80
A faulty headlight or brake light can lead to an MOT failure, so it’s worth fixing quickly.
Some cars make bulb changes very easy, while others can be surprisingly awkward. It’s always worth watching a video for your exact make and model first.
General process
- Open the bonnet.
- Locate the bulb holder behind the light unit.
- Disconnect the wiring.
- Remove the old bulb.
- Fit the replacement without touching the glass.
- Reconnect and test.
Using a cloth or the packaging to handle the bulb helps prevent shortening its lifespan.
Tyres: What You Can and Can’t Do Yourself
Changing a wheel and changing a tyre are two different things.
Fitting a spare wheel is something most drivers can do themselves. Removing a tyre from a wheel and fitting a new one requires specialist equipment and balancing, making it a garage job.
A few useful things to know:
- Many modern cars don’t come with a spare wheel.
- Space-saver spares are limited to 50mph and short journeys.
- Never attempt a wheel change on a motorway. Move to safety and call for assistance.
7. Check Tyre Pressures
Difficulty: Very easy
Time: Around 10 minutes
Potential saving: Usually free
Correct tyre pressures improve fuel economy, braking performance and tyre life.
How to do it
- Find the recommended pressures on the driver’s door frame or in the handbook.
- Remove the valve caps.
- Use a pressure gauge or petrol station airline.
- Adjust the pressure as needed.
- Refit the valve caps.
Always check pressures when tyres are cold for the most accurate reading.
8. Check Tread Depth
Difficulty: Very easy
Time: 5 minutes
Potential saving: Avoids fines and penalty points
The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
The 20p test
Push a 20p coin into the tread groove.
- If the outer band disappears, you’re above the legal limit.
- If you can see the outer band, the tyre needs replacing soon.
Many tyre experts recommend replacing tyres at 3mm for better wet-weather grip.
9. Replace the Engine Air Filter
Difficulty: Easy
Time: Around 15 minutes
Potential saving: £20–£50
The engine air filter prevents dirt and debris entering the engine. A clogged filter can affect performance and fuel economy.
How to do it
- Open the bonnet.
- Find the air filter housing.
- Remove the cover.
- Take out the old filter.
- Fit the new one in the same position.
- Refit the cover.
Taking a quick photo before removing anything can make reassembly easier.
10. Replace a Car Battery
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 20–30 minutes
Potential saving: £40–£70
If your car is struggling to start or regularly needs jump-starting, the battery may be reaching the end of its life.
What you’ll need
- A replacement battery that matches your vehicle’s specification
- A spanner (usually 10mm)
- Gloves and eye protection
How to do it
- Switch the engine off and remove the key.
- Locate the battery.
- Disconnect the negative terminal first.
- Disconnect the positive terminal.
- Remove the retaining clamp and lift the battery out.
- Fit the new battery.
- Reconnect the positive terminal first, then the negative.
Remember that disconnecting the battery may reset things like radio codes, window settings and some vehicle systems.
Final Thoughts on Easy Car Jobs You Can DIY to Save You Money
The jobs at the top of this list really can be done in ten minutes on a quiet Sunday morning. The others might take a little longer the first time around, especially if you’re learning as you go.
But every one of these jobs can help you save money, avoid unnecessary trips to the garage, and get to know your car a little better. And that’s never a bad thing.
Further reading
What is the best way to finance your car?
