How to save money on your car

• Keep an eye on it
• Use high quality parts
• Tips on how to save money

With a cost of living crisis happening across the globe, every price tag is being scrutinised and cheaper products are considered more readily. This will work for food or toiletries, but it should be considered carefully when it comes to vehicle products.

Prioritise quality

While it may be appealing to go with the cheapest replacement part for your car, it’s vital to think about their quality and the consequences of buying on the price alone. It’s like the old saying, ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ and when it comes to your vehicle, the best policy is to think about how much you rely on it and need it to work accordingly, so should be something you invest in, not scrimping on. While the cheap part may cost you less at that moment, in the long run, you’ll have to have replace it again sooner than if you bought a high quality part, which means you’ll also end up paying the labour costs for a mechanic twice rather than once.

While it can be tempting, it’s imperative that drivers do not ignore any problems with their vehicle. It’s better to get your vehicle checked as soon as you notice something’s wrong with it, as it may be a simple, and cheap, problem to fix, but if you leave it, it may become a bigger problem and therefore, more costly to put right. So, it’s wise to have your car looked over and serviced regularly so those small problems can be fixed quickly and efficiently and you can rest assured that your vehicle is safe and running properly.

Ultimately, it’s important to look at your options when it comes to your vehicle, but if you’re comparing prices on parts, consider what you’re getting very carefully and if in doubt, consult with a professional technician.

Along with maintaining your car, it’s also important to look at its running costs and see if there’s anything you can do to save money day-to-day.

 

Filling your car up

Helpfully, there are now many tools you can use to find the cheapest place to refuel, for instance, with apps that allow you enter your location and give you a range of service stations and the prices of petrol and diesel.

 

Accessories

While you may have to pay out a little bit of money on an accessory, this will help you in the long run. For instance, buying a dash camera may be an expense, but if it lowers your annual car insurance premium, it could be worth it!
 

Driving styles

This one you will cost you absolutely nothing, it’s all about how you drive your car! By adapting how you drive, you can save money on fuel. All you need to do is avoid hard acceleration and heavy braking by looking at the traffic in front of you and anticipating it and consider cutting your cruising speed to 60mph, as this alone could increase your fuel efficiency by 10% in a petrol and diesel car, and even more for electric vehicles. In addition, you reduce the risk of being involved in an accident, as you’re paying closer attention to your driving.

 

Pay upfront

While not everyone will be able to do this, if you can pay your car tax and insurance up front, in a yearly fee instead of monthly, it’ll usually cost you less over the year.