An engine oil change is an unavoidable service that every car owner has to get as per the scheduled maintenance or earlier. Changing the oil periodically, or when the car covers a specified number of miles, helps keep the car running at an optimal level. If you continue to drive your car without changing the oil, the debris in the fluid can damage the engine and other expensive parts and, sometimes, cause engine failure.

Cost
According to automakers and other service experts, an oil change is required after every 6 months or after 5,000 miles. Your car may need the service earlier if you drive on rough terrains and in extreme weather or if you use the vehicle too much. The cost of this service depends on the type of engine oil, your location, and the service provider. If you are using conventional oil, the cost of an oil and filter change can range between $35 and $75, while the cost of a synthetic oil change can be anywhere between $70 and $125.

Coupons and types of deals
You may need to change the oil twice or more every year, and having multiple cars can be a substantial expense. Auto repair companies offer oil coupons as a great way to attract car owners. You can find these coupons in local newspapers, at auto repair shops, and on coupon websites. On the one hand, car owners can use oil change coupons to get discounts and save some money, while auto shop owners can advertise their businesses through these vouchers. The different types of offers you can find are:

• Flat price coupons: These coupons mention the exact cost of an oil change and help you know how much you must pay without any ambiguity.
• Dollar-off coupons: Auto repair shops that face a lot of competition offer dollar-off amounts to beat the competition and attract more car owners to their shops. For instance, you can get $10 or $15 off the total price of the oil change service.
• Specialty coupons: Here, auto repair shops that specialize in a specific type of oil change, like only synthetic or conventional oil, offer coupons for just those services.
• Combination coupons: Combination oil change coupons are quite popular as the shops offer additional free services instead of discounts. Some companies may offer a tiny discount with a free service, like a tire rotation or multi-point vehicle inspection.

Auto repair shops know that comparing prices is a common way to get the best deal, so they constantly track the market and offer discounts to be competitive yet profitable.

How to find coupons?
Car dealership oil changes are generally expensive and may not come with deals or discounts. But, just to save some money, avoid picking auto repair shops that offer attractive coupons but end up using poor quality oil or providing shoddy service by inexperienced mechanics. You can find the best coupons by following auto repair shops and other oil change companies on social media platforms. You can also sign up to receive alerts about deals and offers and check your inbox frequently to find oil change coupons. You may not find the right coupon for a long period past the scheduled date. Here, do not delay the service and get the oil changed within two weeks after the due date. Most automakers also offer oil change coupons in partnership with repair shops to promote their brands. You can find oil change coupons in emails and advertisements issued by car dealerships or repair shops, ads on auto websites, and sites like Groupon and the Krazy Coupon Lady.

Finding service providers
To find oil change services near you, the best thing to do is to browse through your car brand website and look for the list of authorized service agents on the site. You can also look for service providers in newspapers. An online search using your zip code and car brand can also give you access to many oil change services near you. If you come across a good coupon, call the provider and confirm if they will honor the deal. Talk to them about the type and brand of oil they use so that it is consistent with the recommendations of your car’s manufacturer. You can read the maintenance manual to check which brands are best suited for your car.

Best coupons
Some of the best oil change coupons are:

• $10 off Valvoline’s full-service synthetic oil change
• A $20 discount on conventional oil and $25 off on specialty oil at Jiffy Lube
• 15% discount on auto services for AAA members
• NTB conventional oil change starting at $24.99, and $20 savings on full synthetic oil change
• Up to $20 off on at Pep Boys’ synthetic oil change