Save Money on Your Car in Great Ways
Wednesday, March 20
 |
| source: supermoneysave.com |
The upkeep of your vehicle can be
quite an expense - from initial purchase to insurance to maintenance. So we can save money on our car in great ways. And
sometimes we get the sinking feeling that every time we need a car repair,
we’re going to get taken for a ride. (pardon the pun!) Actually there are some
ways to make sure you don’t get a raw deal when dealing with a local body shop. So we can save money on our car in great ways.
After you get recommendations for
honest mechanics, call around to check out the prices for certain jobs. It’s
always smart to get a second opinion.
How about some preventative
medicine? Keep your gas tank filled. This will help you avoid the gas line
freezing up in cold weather. Also, driving on “fumes” allows little pieces of
dirt at the bottom of your gas tank to run through the fuel lines with the last
drops of gas. This debris clogs up the fuel filter and can cause carburetor
damage as well.
Sometimes a problem with your
car’s electrical system results from a simple blown fuse. Check to see if you
have any blown fuses before investing in a tow truck!
Keep track of how much oil your
car uses. A sudden change in oil consumption means you need to see a
technician.
Save your brakes by having your
brake fluid changed every 30,000 miles.
Check your tire pressure once a
month. This simple maintenance check can add up savings at the gas pump!
Stop and go traffic causes excess
wear and tear on your vehicle. Go ahead and give your car a nice twenty minute
ride at 55 mph on the highway every couple weeks if you “major” in short trips.
There are other ways to save
money on car expenses. Let’s look at the insurance payments.
If you’ve budgeted for possible
out-of-pocket expenses in case of a car accident, you might want to consider
increasing your insurance deductible to $500. This will lower the cost of your
insurance.
Talk to your insurance agent. If
your car is as old as the hills, you might want to drop collision coverage to
save money.
Car insurance companies offer a
variety of discounts. Ask your agent if the company offers reductions for
driver training courses, anti-lock brakes, car alarms, air bags, mature
drivers, good students or maintaining a good driving record.
Before you purchase from a
dealer, ask about the dealer's return policy, get it in writing and read it
carefully. Dealers are not required by law to give used car buyers a three-day
right to cancel.
Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph
is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gas.
In most cases, using cruise
control on the highway will save gas.
Replacing a clogged air filter
can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. This isn’t going
to cost you an arm or leg either.
Do your homework when buying a
car from an auction. Many vehicles that have been damaged by floods and
hurricanes are going on the market. These won’t last long – leaving you with a
flood of bills. Be a little concerned if the carpet looks too new, and check
carefully for signs of rust.
If you use your car for business,
keep track of miles traveled so that you can use this for a tax deduction. Get
more info at irs.gov.
When you consider all the ways
you can save money on your current vehicle, you might be persuaded to put away
the extra each month for a new car down the road!
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