Many car-lovers hold the philosophy of sparing no expense when it comes to keeping their ride in pristine condition. On the other hand, if there is an option to get the same quality outcome for less money, who wouldn’t take it? Fortunately, we have that option for car-lovers everywhere with these ways to cut costs in car care.
Drive Gently
The best way to cut down on the cost of car care is to create a situation in which the car simply needs less care. That means driving your car in a way that promotes less wear and tear. These are just a few bad driving habits that may take a bite out of your car and your wallet later.
- Taking corners too quickly
- Braking too hard
- Warming up the car (this is unnecessary on newer cars)
- Underutilizing the parking brake
- Not avoiding potholes
- Shifting gears too quickly
Buckle Down on Small Maintenance
Neglecting regular maintenance puts greater stress on your vehicle, causing it to wear down more quickly, which will likely lead to bigger and more costly problems down the road. Skimping on maintenance is a bad call, but that doesn’t mean we have to break the bank to do it. Learning how to do several simple car maintenance tasks yourself, for instance, will save you from having to take so many trips to the mechanic. It will also cut down on the amount of work mechanics have to do when you finally do take your car in. Both of these benefits will cost you less money.
On the other hand, there are some tasks that many of us do more than necessary because of past, conventional wisdom. For example, although some still recommend an oil change every 3,000 miles, that is mostly only necessary for older cars. Nowadays, many mechanics agree that car owners can wait until the 5,000 to 7,500-mile mark before getting an oil change.
Wash the Car Yourself
Many prefer a professional touch when it comes to getting a car wash, but there are plenty of reasons to wash the car yourself. Namely, that you can save money and get a professional-looking wash job if you know how to wash the car correctly. Ditch the routine of one dirty bucket of dish-soaped water and an old cloth. For the best wash job, you’ll want two buckets—a wash bucket and a rinse bucket. Also, opting for a cloth and soap made for cars is a small investment that will save you money in the long run. These will cut through the corrosive brake dust, road salt, and other grime that can assault a car’s body without causing any extra damage themselves.
Up Fuel Efficiency
Increasing your car’s fuel efficiency doesn’t just save money on gas. Driving on low or no fuel also causes the engine to wear out faster by allowing particles at the bottom of the gas tank to clog up the filters. Keeping the tanks full keeps your engine from wearing out faster, which is one of the most expensive car repairs you would ever have to foot.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
