How to Save Money on Your Car

By the common man, one of the most appreciated car news includes how it is possible to make financial savings on cars. This is achievable in a variety of ways.

First of all, instead of purchasing a new car every few years, it is cheaper to purchase a quality car and keep it running for five to seven years. Cars never cease to rise in price and quickly lose value.

If you do purchase a new car, a smaller model could be better. It will be less expensive and is likely to use less petrol as it is lighter. Car reviews can tell you how things stand. Car tax and insurance could also be better on your pocket if a car is smaller. Consider the effect of different options on petrol usage. Consumption is several miles a gallon, more if air conditioning is used when on a motorway, and even worse in traffic that stops and starts. Automatic transmission uses about five mpg less than the manual sort. If your engine has more cylinders, it will use more petrol. Car comparison will show you where you can make savings on petrol usage.

Also, do ask your insurance agent if the model you like carries a surcharge for greater damage, repair or theft costs. Although some dealers perform the hardest of sells for credit disability or credit life insurance, these are highly overpriced and it would be better to stay with your existing provider or employer. Home and car insurance could be combined in one policy, and insurers often provide a discount for multiple policies. Non-smokers and drinkers might receive a further discount, while air bags and other features automatically receive a discount.

It is also prudent to avoid the service contracts or extended warranties for new cars available from dealers. These often have very limited coverage, whatever that salesman told you. The cost will be greater than that of a policy purchased directly from a dedicated insurance provider.

For car maintenance, there are many ways to save money:

A poorly-tuned car will use between 25 and 33 percent more petrol, so a tune-up is considerably cheaper in the long run. No matter what the owner’s manual says, oil and the oil filter ought to be changed every 3,000 miles. Frequent oil changes are the single more crucial factor in extended the life of your engine, and are sure to save a lot more than they cost.

Your car’s air filter should be changed monthly. A blocked filter shortens the life of your engine and reduces petrol mileage by up to 10 percent.

Tyre pressure should be checked periodically, or petrol mileage will be as much as six percent worse for every pound of under-inflation. Tyres will last much longer if they are balanced once a year. In addition to destroying the tread, unbalanced tyres can wear out your shock absorbers and your suspension system. For steel-belted radial tyres, petrol mileage will be as much as 10 percent better.

You should check fluid levels regularly. If a battery is low on water, its life will be shorter. Coolant, automatic transmission fluid, brake and clutch fluid levels should also be checked.

When you buy petrol, it is best to opt for self-service, or you will find yourself paying from five to 10 percent more. The tank should never be filled to the brim, because some petrol might then overflow when sunlight causes it to expand or you park on a hill.

You should never use petrol with more octanes than is advised by your owner’s manual. Most cars receive no benefit from premium petrol while the price is 10 to 15 percent greater than that of the regular stuff.