Keeping a car on the road can be incredibly expensive and especially if you are constantly ferrying the kids around! Fortunately, there are actually a few different ways that you can bring down the cost which could have a huge impact on your finances in the long run. If you are spending a fortune keeping your car on the road, here are a few tips for bringing down the costs:
Car Choice
The best way to reduce your running costs is to make sure that you are driving a decent car. The ones which will be the most affordable to drive will be a small city car as these will sip fuel, be cheap to tax and cheap to insure. You might think they are unsuitable for families, but many have a surprising amount of space inside. You can also find these cars for very affordable prices in the used car market from places like Fow.
Smart Driving
You can also reduce your running costs by adjusting the way in which you drive your car. Driving smoothly, keep the revs down, turning the engine off when sat in traffic and reducing weight and drag can all make a big difference. You should also make sure that your tyres are inflated to the right pressure on a regular basis.
Black Box
Black box insurance (or telematics) is a clever type of insurance where your vehicle is fitted with a small black box which will record your driving information (speed, distance travelled, time of journey) and assess your driving style to build a profile to establish a fair insurance premium. This is a great way to reduce the amount you pay for insurance whilst also encouraging you to improve the way in which you drive.
DIY Maintenance
You should always stick to the service and maintenance schedule for your vehicle to avoid any lengthy repairs down the line. Although you should never skip these, there are many maintenance tasks that you can do yourself instead of taking it into the garage. These often only require basic tools and you can find handy guides online to help you through the process. Additionally, you should regularly check the fluids, replace the motor oil, change the filter and clean the car inside and out to keep it in a healthy condition.
These are the main ways that you can keep your running costs down. Keeping the car on the road can be incredibly expensive, but it is an important expense as every family needs a car that they can rely on. By picking the right car, altering your driving, reducing your insurance and keeping on top of maintenance, you will be surprised at just how much you will save in the long run.
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