A Few Tips For Reducing The Cost of Owning a Car

Owning a car can be quite expensive, especially if you are young. Reducing the cost of owning a car is essential for anyone in this day and age. That said, here are a few tips to reduce how much you spend on your vehicle.
 Always Inspect The Tires
It’s advisable to check the condition of your tyres before you drive off. Check whether they are pumped up to the right pressure. A small drop in pressure can increase fuel consumption which makes owning a car more expensive. Also, ensure that you take your car to a motor shop for wheel alignment inspection. Having your wheels aligned properly not only reduces fuel consumption, but also saves you from potential accidents.
Drive with Care
Reducing how much you drive is an excellent way of cutting down the costs that come with owning a car, but that is not always viable or possible. Instead, consider changing your driving habits. One of the best ways to achieve this is by avoiding harsh acceleration, heavy braking and excessive speed.
Did you know that driving at a speed of 70MPH uses 9% more fuel than at 60MPH and 15% more than at 50MPH? Also, straining the engine and being in the wrong gear tends to use up more fuel.
Remove Excess Weight
It’s a no-brainer that having excess items in your car will stress the engine and lead to more fuel consumption. For every extra 25Kg, the fuel consumption rate will rise by 1%. So, always check what’s in the car before taking off and get rid of anything you don’t need to carry.
Cut insurance
Insurance is probably the second largest cost of owning a car, after fuel and in some cases the most expensive. So, go online to compare car insurance deals and get a better deal.
Turn Off The Air-Conditioner
Avoid using the air-con whenever possible as it can increase fuel consumption. It’s better to open the car windows unless you are travelling at higher speeds.
Shop for Cheaper Fuel
How much you pay when you replenish petrol depends on the station you use. As such, it’s always better to look for better prices in your area. Petrolprices.com is an excellent site for comparing prices at stations near you. However, keep in mind that if you are driving out of your route to a cheaper location, you are likely to spend more driving there than you would save.