With the cost of living soaring, most of us are looking how to make savings to our monthly outgoings. Were sure you’ll be delighted to know there are lots of ways you can reduce car costs without making big changes. Check them out below.
Fill up smart
We know your local petrol station is convenient, but is it the cheapest? With fuel prices remaining high, doing your homework and finding out where is offering the lowest prices for fuel can result in some big cost savings.
Once you’ve found the cheapest petrol station, plan a route that makes the most of the required travel. You don’t want your savings to be wiped out by the journey to get there! We also recommend filling up early or late in the day. Cold fuel is denser, so you drive away with a little more for your money.
Learn more about maximising fuel efficiency here.
Remove weight
The lighter your car is, the less stress on the engine when it’s moving, and the less fuel you’ll burn to move it. I’m sure we’re all guilty of travelling with lots of unnecessary items in the car, so make sure you take out anything that you don’t actually need for your journey.
Care for your tyres
Having fully inflated tyres that have the proper threads is not only your legal responsibility, you’ll also save. Your car will be running at its best and not getting any unnecessary wear and tear.
Check out our tips for checking tyre pressure here.
Drive economically
The more economically you can drive, the more you’ll save on fuel as well as maintenance costs. Speedy acceleration and harsh breaking are unnecessarily taxing on the vehicle. Make sure you’re always in the best gear for your speed to prevent your engine from straining too.
Offer lift shares
Share the journey with others who will chip in for the cost of fuel or parking. There’s no sense in taking three cars on a day trip if you can all fit in two. Journeys to work with colleagues or other parents on the school run will also help cut emissions and reduce the amount of vehicle pollution.
Shop around for insurance
There is so much choice for insurance and break down cover, you’ll usually get a better deal if you look around. Many insurers don’t have their best prices on comparison sites either, so it can pay off to call them directly. Plus, if you threaten to leave your current company for a better deal, they often cut your costs as an incentive to stay, saying you money without the hassle of changing at all.
Think about your named drivers
Who is on your insurance policy also makes a difference to the cost you’ll be paying out. Do you have a high-risk named driver on your policy? Consider if they really need to be on your insurance. On the flip side, adding a low risk driver can actually bring your own prices down, even if they’ll never actually drive the vehicle.
Spare driveway space?
If you’ve got an empty parking spot at your house in a desirable area, you can actually make money from it! Use apps like Your Parking Space or Just Park to rent out your space to other motorists and bring a little extra cash in for yourself.
Do you actually need a car?
You might find yourself asking whether you actually need to own a car at all. For example, could your family get by without a second vehicle? Meashams are on hand to provide affordable, reliable car hires even at short notice. So, you might consider simply hiring a vehicle when you need one. This way, you won’t have to cover all the costs of insurance and maintenance for your own vehicle. This doesn’t just reduce car costs, it eliminates them completely.