When money is scarce, car maintenance and repair can seem like a luxury. But local maintenance shops in the Fredericksburg area report being busier than they were six months ago.

Drivers are opting to fix the car they already own, rather than buy a new one.

People are keeping their cars for a few reasons. Drivers say they want to avoid a monthly payment, and others say they would have difficulty securing a loan in the current credit climate.

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