Been doing our cars ourselves the past 15+ years (oil changes, brake & tire replacements, etc). Though if more serious car repairs are required at the shop ... have a few hook-ups at some places (trustworthy owners that pops went to school & played sports with) and they'll include the oil change & some other quick inspection & top-up stuff for $20 - 25. Haven't had any real issues though ... just some minor catalytic converter & MAF sensor shit around 2009/2010 with current vehicle. We tended to that, but got a 2nd opinion at the shops as it still wasn't running too smoothly. Had some issues passing the AirCare test (program is no longer required) when it was needed every 2nd year. Hoping to upgrade current car within the next 6 - 12 months.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirCare_(emissions_program)
AirCare was an initiative started in 1992 to improve air quality in
British Columbia,
Canada through the systematic testing of road vehicles in order to reduce their emissions. Light-duty vehicles were suggested to be the biggest contributors to air pollutants that form smog and a small percentage of vehicles were contributing a large percentage of the pollutants.
[1] AirCare ran for 22 years and was cancelled on December 31, 2014. AirCare was cancelled due to the fact that new vehicles were continuously becoming more eco-friendly, and the percentage of old cars on the road was decreasing.
The AirCare emissions program was started in order to reduce
carbon emissions by vehicles. Many car models had to pass yearly or biyearly AirCare inspections.
[2] The aimed to prevent old cars with high emissions to drive on the road without necessary repairs, thus protecting the air quality and lowering
British Columbia's
carbon footprint. AirCare was not considered a for-profit program, and charged just enough to cover its costs.
[3] For example, in 2013 AirCare was charging $45 per test, but at the start of 2014 demand and therefore cost for the AirCare emissions test dropped to $36.
[3] In 2014, the price continued to drop $2 a month, and by December 2014, as the program was about to be cancelled, the price had dropped to $14.