Although younger drivers typically face higher insurance premiums, the cost of maintaining your vehicle can seem to rise as you get older. If you’re eager to keep driving, but you want to reduce your outgoings, there are ways you can cut the costs of maintaining your vehicle. To find out how to minimize your expenditure, take a look at these top tips now:
1. Carry Out Basic Maintenance Yourself
If you routinely take your car into the garage to have the oil level or tire pressures checked, you could be spending money that you don’t need to. Many car maintenance tasks are easy to carry out yourself, so save yourself a trip to the garage and learn to do them.
With free online guides and How-To videos, you can access all the information you need when it comes to basic car maintenance. While you should always contact a professional mechanic if you’re unsure, learning how to carry out basic maintenance on your vehicle can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a year.
2. Switch Your Insurer
The cost of insurance can be the biggest motoring expense you’ll encounter, but you can save a considerable amount by switching to a different insurance company. If you’re aged 50 or over, you might find that AARP car insurance significantly reduces your premiums. Available from The Hartford, the AARP auto insurance program enables you to access lower premiums and a range of extras, including lifetime car repair assurance, new car replacement coverage, and assistance after an accident.
By choosing an insurance policy that includes a range of extras, you can avoid having to pay these extra costs if you are involved in an accident. While no-one wants to consider the possibility of being hurt on the road, any collision could affect your finances, as well as your health and wellbeing. Preparing for the worst-case scenario means you’ll have the financial security you need and peace of mind that you’ve got a high level of insurance cover.
3. Disconnect Your Battery
If you don’t use your vehicle regularly, you can save money by disconnecting the battery when it’s not in use. This prevents it from being depleted unnecessarily and can increase its lifespan by months or even years. Do be aware that disconnecting the car’s battery will mean that you have to input engine management or radio codes next time you re-connect the battery and use the vehicle.
Alternatively, you could use a trickle charger to keep your car’s battery from going dead if it’s not used often. This can prevent unnecessary wear and tear caused by jumping the battery and means you won’t be faced with a dead battery next time you want to use your vehicle.
4. Buy a New Vehicle
As you get older, you may drive your vehicle less often than usual. If you’re no longer commuting to work every day, for example, you may not need a car with an especially powerful engine. Similarly, if you aren’t driving on fast highways regularly, you may not need a vehicle that’s capable of doing 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds.
If so, changing your vehicle could be a great way to save money in the long-term. Choosing a car that’s known for its low maintenance costs will minimize the amount you spend on a monthly or yearly basis. What’s more – selling or part-exchanging your current vehicle could reduce the cost of buying something new.
5. Use the Right Tires
If you don’t switch your tires ready for summer and winter, you’re probably replacing them more often than you need to. Driving with inappropriate tires inevitably leads to wear and tear that could be avoided, which means the tread on your tires will be ground down more quickly. Most tires need to be replaced once the tread reaches 1.6mm, and this can be a costly way to run your car.
By having two sets of tires – one for winter driving and one for summer driving – you can ensure your car is ready for any weather condition. In addition to giving your vehicle more stability and making it safer on the road, switching your tires can increase their lifespan and save you money in the long run.
6. Keep the Gas Tank Topped Up
When your car is low on gas; air, sediment, and debris from the bottom of the tank can be drawn into the fuel pump. This can clog the fuel systems, as well as cause your filters and cause your pump to corrode. Once too much sediment or air has been drawn into the engine, it will stop your car from starting altogether.
Keeping your gas tank topped up is an easy way to prevent this from happening, and it can save you having to pay for costly repairs in the future. Of course, another advantage of keeping your fuel tank full is that you’re less likely to be faced with a vehicle that won’t start when you need to use it.
7. Have Your Car Serviced
Having your car serviced regularly helps to keep it in good condition and can prevent problems from developing. In many cases, an annual service identifies minor issues before they become major issues, which means you won’t have unforeseen repairs to fund.
In addition to this, having a full-service history can increase the resale value of your car. If you ever decide to sell your vehicle, you could obtain more for it if you’ve got a full-service history to show potential buyers.
Keep Car Maintenance Costs at An All-Time Low
Maintaining a vehicle can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. If you wait for something to go wrong, having it repaired can be costly and stressful. By being proactive, however, you can maintain your vehicle for a fraction of the cost and avoid the inconvenience of having an unreliable car. With the right amount of TLC, you can keep your vehicle safely on the road for as long as possible.
Feature photo by Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
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