For many people, owning a car is a necessity, and an expensive one at that! Between registration, insurance, maintenance, petrol and parking; many of our hard earned dollars are being spent running our vehicles. With a little consideration, you can keep costs down and pocket that extra cash! Here are the 5 best ways to keep down the cost of running your car:
- Have your car serviced regularly
While booking your car in for regular servicing will initially cost money, it’ll save you far more in the long term. By ensuring that your car is running smoothly and efficiently through regular maintenance, you’ll avoid expensive problems down the track. All you need to do is be sure to budget a little extra cash each week to cover the costs of regular servicing!
- Reduce petrol costs
This is one of the easiest ways to manage the costs of your car! Purchasing petrol can be pricey, but if you’re smart about how you drive, you’ll find that it’s actually quite easy to save. Try combining all your errands to one trip instead of multiple ones throughout the week. Is there a public transport route on your way to work? Catch the bus instead of driving to work each day! It’s the little things that add up, so take note of how often you use your car and figure out ways to reduce it. Keep an eye on those shopper dockets too – often supermarkets run promotions with petrol stations and offer discount vouchers on your receipts!
- Look after your tyres
Tyres are expensive – it can cost you upwards of $400 if you need all four replaced! By ensuring that your tyres are well-maintained, you are potentially saving yourself hundreds of dollars in the long run. Make sure you check tyre pressure and wheel alignment, and rotating your wheels on a regular basis. If you see any problems arising, get it checked out immediately to avoid making it worse.
- Keep your car longer
Instead of trading in your car for a new model every few years, hold onto it for longer! Cars tend to depreciate quickly, so if you’re frequently trading in, you’ll start to lose money. If your car is reliable and in good shape, why bother trading it in after a few years? Save your cash for something more important, like a first-home or investment property deposit!
- Take it easy on the pedal
To avoid damaging your engine, and save money at the same time, try to take it easy on the pedals! Driving excessively fast, revving your engine, and driving your car too hard in general are not only dangerous to yourself and others on the road, but it’s an easy way to put stress on the transmission components! Be gentle with your car and drive calmly – you’ll save both money and lives!