5 Ideas To Reduce Your Driving Costs
Owning a car can get pretty expensive: there are the purchase costs, insurance, fuel, and the repairs. Fortunately, there are lots of ways that you can reduce your driving expenses. Here are five ideas to help you start saving.
Contents
1 . Regular maintenance
When you own a vehicle you must schedule regular maintenance checks. Failing to fix minor issues could leave you with incredibly expensive repairs in the future.
If you do have car trouble, do your homework on making the repairs. Sprawl Way provides great information on dealing with a dead car battery. Consider how long it takes to start your car, and if an interior light indicates that your battery is low. The article also explains how to use a car battery charger, and how to jump start a car.
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It can also be dangerous to skip your car maintnance checks. To help you keep on top of your maintenance try using the Car Minder app, it sends you a notification every time that you need to have your car serviced. You can use the app to log all previous maintenance work, repairs, and expenses.
2 . Compare fuel prices
To reduce your driving costs, it’s well worth comparing fuel prices. The GasBuddy tool can help you to find the nearest gas stations, and compare the different prices.
You can also use GasBuddy to track your driving habits, get gas rewards, and track fuel consumption. Keeping track of how much fuel you use can help you to reduce your carbon footprint, and save money.
3. Consider an electric vehicle
Running an electric vehicle can help you to save plenty of money. According to Consumer Reports, a typical Electronic Vehicle (EV) owner who does most of their fueling at home can expect to save an average of $800 to $1,000 a year on fueling costs over an equivalent gasoline-powered car.
Consumer Reports also discovered that “maintenance and repair costs for EVs are significantly lower.” Next time you upgrade your car, consider switching to an EV.
There are plenty more benefits of buying an electric car, such as:
- Zero emissions, helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Less depreciation than traditional vehicles.
- Less noisy to run, and a smoother drive.
4. Take a defensive driving course
Defensive Driving means driving predictably while anticipating the actions of the drivers around you. It’s about driving as safely as possible and identifying all hazards.
A defensive driving course studies safe driving in detail, helping students to reduce the risk of being in an accident. The course covers topics such as crashes, psychological factors, safety equipment, and more.
When you take a defensive driving course, you’ll be able to save money on your insurance package. Consult with an insurance agent for more details.
5. Limit your mileage
Reducing your mileage can help you to save money on fuel and limit the depreciation of your vehicle. Before you jump in the car, consider if you need to drive for this journey. For shorter journeys consider taking a walk or using public transport. Driving less can also help you to go green and protect the earth.
Further ideas
Small changes like this can make a world of difference. When you update your car, consider buying a second vehicle instead of something brand new. There are plenty of quality second-hand cars out there, just ensure that you shop with a reputable dealer.
One of the most irritating car expenses is getting a traffic ticket! To appeal against a traffic ticket, you can contact TicketBust. Consult with an attorney regarding all legal issues.
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Good luck!
Ken Boyd
Author: Cost Accounting for Dummies, Accounting All-In-One for Dummies, The CPA Exam for Dummies and 1,001 Accounting Questions for Dummies
(email) ken@stltest.net
(website and blog) https://www.accountingaccidentally.com/