Many of us are trying to find ways to cut costs right now. With everything from food prices to energy bills going up, anything we can do to save money is likely to be welcome.
One way to save is to look at what we drive and the way we drive it. For motorists, a car is often both a necessity, making it possible to get to work and pick the kids up from school, and an expensive means of getting around.
However, it is possible to save money on our motors. Here are some ways to reduce spending on your car.
Tyre pressure
By ensuring your tyres are safe to drive on and maintaining optimum tyre pressure, you’re more likely to get the most out of them. This means that you won’t have to replace you tyres as quickly as you would if you didn’t look after them properly.
Plus, you’re legally responsible for making sure you have quality car tyres that are the right thickness. They should have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm in order for them to be legal to drive on. You can run a simple check on this by placing a 20p piece in the tread groove of your tyre.
Drive economically
Avoid aggressive driving techniques like harsh braking, fast acceleration, and excessive speeding. These habits might result in higher fuel costs as you burn through diesel or petrol faster when you drive at excessively high speeds. They can also lead to faster vehicle degradation.
Regular maintenance
By keeping up with basic maintenance jobs on your car, you’re less likely to see things breaking and needing costly repairs.
If you spot any damage or wear and tear, such as worn brake pads, take your car to a mechanic to get the essentials updated and replaced right away. While this can mean having to find the funds, it prevents having to fork out for bigger repair jobs later down the line.
Try getting into the routine of regularly inspecting your car. This will help to see if anything’s different and if anything needs updating.
Review your insurance
Insurance can take up a huge chunk of your monthly outgoings. To be sure you are getting the best price for your policy, look around for better deals when your current cover is up for renewal.
Car sharing
If you and a colleague are heading in the same direction, why not car share to the office? This can reduce money you spend on fuel each month and also reduce emissions. Plus, it could potentially half the amount of wear and tear on your motor as you won’t be driving as much.
Consider fuel efficiency
If you’re in the market for a new car, look at models that offer the best fuel efficiency. While many of us are moving toward electric vehicles in time for the diesel and petrol ban, it’s likely you’ll be driving traditionally fuelled motors for a while longer, so it’s worth shopping around for a car that wont cost the earth to fill up.
