Do you have a vehicle that's in frequent need of auto repair? Do you avoid taking your vehicle to the mechanic if you don't need to? While there are definitely repairs that are usually best left to professionals, here are a couple simple repairs that you should be able to accomplish on your own:

Air filter replacement: This car repair is probably the easiest one that you can do. Although the location, size and shape of an air filter varies depending on the exact year, make and model of your vehicle, the procedure is typically uncomplicated.

If you can't remember exactly what your vehicle is, double check your insurance information or registration papers before visiting the auto parts store. Your store may have an entire wall of air filters for a wide assortment of vehicles, all in nearly identical boxes, so make sure to confirm with a clerk that you did get the correct one.

Once you have the filter, it's usually simply a matter of either removing a wing nut or undoing a couple of clamps so that you can pull out the old filter and install the new one. Although the location is usually obvious if you know what the filter looks like, you may need to consult your owner's manual if you are unable to figure out where the filter is supposed to go.

Fan belt: Having your fan belt replaced is an extremely common auto repair that needs to be done every year or two. While some fan belts may be nearly impossible to get to if you don't have a vehicle hoist, others are located in convenient and easy-to-reach areas on the side of the engine.

Before you go out and purchase a fan belt, make sure to look for one or two online how-to videos for your vehicle's exact year, make and model. This will be helpful not only in deciding if replacing the fan belt is going to be in your skill range, but also whether or not you need to purchase any additional tools to perform the replacement. For example, some fan belt replacements may require a special wrench or screwdriver that will fit into tight spaces.

If, at any point, you find yourself uncomfortable with performing any auto repair, be sure to take your vehicle in to a mechanic like Pete's Service Center. It will be less expensive in the long run to pay a mechanic to do the job than to attempt an auto repair that is outside of your skill set. Repairing accidental damage could end up costing several times what the price of the original repair would have been.