Repairing your car is a necessary part of owning a car. Nobody likes to spend their hard earned money dealing with costly car repairs, but there are a few things you can do to help keep the cost of your car repairs as cheap as possible.Consider an Extended WarrantyWhen the original warranty has expired, consider purchasing an extended warranty to protect yourself from costly repairs. Be sure to do your research as not all warranty companies will give you the same coverage. Only get a warranty if your total cost for the warranty, plus the cost of any deductibles, will pay for itself with two major repairs at the most. If you find yourself paying too much for the total cost of the warranty, then you might be better off taking your chances and repairing your car when a breakdown happens.Find a Great MechanicFind a mechanic that will give you a great value and be one that you can trust. Develop a rapport with your mechanic and continue to give them your business, even if your repair might be slightly higher from time to time. Doing this will help your mechanic keep a vested interest in you and your car. There is nothing mechanics love more than a steady flow of business from a baseline of customers. Soon you will find that your mechanic will help you out by giving your car a little extra attention to details. If the relationship with your mechanic is strong, you could even get the work done and pay for it over time.Fix Only the Necessary StuffYou may want to consider making only the necessary repairs. Many mechanics will try to convince you that you should replace certain parts before they break down. Many parts will cost the same to replace now as they will to repair when they are broken. The only time you will want to replace a part ahead of time is when a breakdown will cause further damage to the engine.