Four Ways to Cut the Cost of Running Your Car

After your home, your car is probably the second biggest purchase that you will ever make. However, the cost of car ownership doesn’t stop with handing your money over to the seller. Over time, the cost of keeping your car on the road can quickly add up; auto insurance fees, taxes, and making sure that the tank always has enough gas in it can take out a large chunk from your monthly expenses. And, that’s without factoring in the cost of car repairs, part replacements, and regular services. So, what can you do to slash your car expenses? Thankfully, there are several savvy tricks that all car owners can use to help them spend less on their vehicle.

Drive Safely

Being safety conscious when driving isn’t just less risky for yourself and other road users; it can also be better for your bank balance. Bear in mind that rapid accelerating, speeding, and harsh braking can all use up extra gas when you drive, and will also put more wear and tear on your car, meaning that you’re more likely going to have to pay for repairs in the future. Instead, keeping to a sensible speed, braking gently and driving defensively rather than aggressively will save you money on fuel and keep your car in better condition.

Keep Your Tires Inflated

Simply making sure that your tires are at the right pressure can improve your gas usage by around 3%. The trick here is to avoid going by the maximum pressure, which is printed on the tire’s sidewall.Instead, you should be able to find the best pressure level for your car in the owner’s manual. It’s a good idea to invest in a tire gauge and check your pressure about once per month since tires tend to lose on average around two pounds of pressure monthly. Keeping your tires correctly inflated will also reduce your risk of experiencing a blowout, which can be both costly and dangerous.

Service Your Car Regularly

Although it may be tempting to skip having your car serviced to save some money, this could be a decision that will cost you more in the long run. Servicing your vehicle is important to ensure that it is in the best condition, and during the service, the mechanic will be able to spot any potential issues and deal with them quickly before they start to cause any bigger and more expensive problems. After the service, your car will have optimal oil and engine fluid levels, correct tire pressure, and more to ensure that it’s running smoothly and being as fuel-efficient as possible, which will also save money. Check auto service prices here.

Shop Around

Lastly, if your car’s insurance policy is soon to be up for renewal, then you can save a significant amount of money simply by shopping around instead of automatically renewing with your current provider. Bear in mind that there are many factors that can help you save money on your car insurance policy, such as making sure that you are entering the correct mileage.

If you found these tips useful, we’d love to hear from you in the comments.