Ever feel the burden of being a college student with the responsibility of car ownership? You are not alone. And as we all know, cars are not cheap. The parking lots around campus indicate that the majority of students drive to class everyday.

Unfortunately, parking fees aren’t the only expense associated with the luxury of driving to school. Insurance, registration and rising gas prices can make the freedom feel more like a burden.

For the savvy drivers out there however, there is a way to save a few bucks by learning how to keep their cars in top shape; or better yet, have an aspiring auto-specialist do it for you. Skyline College’s Auto-Tech programs can provide students with conceptual and practical training on how to perform routine maintenance on their vehicles, potentially saving them thousands over the course of their vehicle’s lifetime.

Although the Auto-Tech program may not be for everyone, the program does offer some vehicle services at a discount to the Skyline community. Students and faculty can save on car parts and materials without labor costs, which can equate to the bulk of the charges at traditional auto-service garages,

“Maintaining your own car these days is getting harder and harder and sometimes not realistic for the car owner to perform by themselves,” said program instructor Thomas Broxholm. “All work is inspected by the instructor before it is released to the customer,” ensuring that all work performed on the vehicle would be up to the standards of a specialist.

For students that are interested in maximizing the amount they can save, the program welcomes students of all skill levels. The entire Automotive-Technology department at Skyline has contextualized the curriculum toward a career in the automotive field for students interested in pursuing a certificate or degree. Instructors even allow for students to work on their own cars.

“We encourage our students to bring in their own cars to work on,” said Filipp Gleyzer, Business and Automotive professor. “Although Skyline College has a fleet of 95 cars available to work on, we want our students to be able to maintain their own vehicles.”

Most students are unaware of the extended services of the program offers. This little-known Skyline perk can even be a small peace of mind for those that choose to allow fellow-students to learn on their cars.“I look at finding a garage like finding a hairdresser,” Skyline student Min Tan said. “You want to go to someone you feel comfortable with. Some people may feel comfort knowing they’re not getting ripped off.”