It’s estimated that there are around 275 million vehicles on the road in the US. Every single one of them presents something of a financial burden for their owner. That’s because there’s no getting away from the fact that they are expensive to run – and potentially too expensive to keep on the road if circumstances change or if they are involved in a crash.
But there are certain measures any driver can take to protect themselves from financial setbacks when it comes to staying on the road.
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Regular maintenance
All car makers produce a recommended maintenance schedule for every model they produce. The idea is that following this will prolong the life of the car and get it to perform with maximum efficiency throughout its lifespan.
Following this schedule should not only achieve this but also make the car in question more economical to run in terms of gas consumption. In addition, mechanical breakdowns become much less likely.
So, although the expense of regularly taking the car to the shop for servicing might seem high, in the long run, it’s going to save you a whole heap of cash, and you will avoid financial setbacks.
And, although the manufacturers will always suggest that you have a car serviced at one of their approved dealerships, you can get the same level of service for a lower cost at your local independent shop.
Saving money on parts
Something else that most car makers recommend is that any parts that are fitted are the ones that they make themselves. Unsurprisingly, these come at a premium price whilst not necessarily being of a noticeably higher quality than their generic equivalents.
This is another advantage of using your local independent repair and service shop. You can stipulate that any parts that they use are not the car maker’s own.
There are also savings to be made on other consumables like tires and mufflers. For example, Fuzion tires may be a budget brand but perform just as well as many of their more expensive rivals. They also offer specific types of tires for different uses, such as touring, performance, and all-terrain.
DIY tasks
There are also plenty of ways that you can look after your car for yourself. That way, you won’t be paying the high labor charges that often outstrip the cost of the parts that are needed for a standard service, like oil and air filters and new sets of spark plugs.
Changing all of these is something that anyone with even a slight aptitude for mechanics can easily do in their front yard or garage. And there are plenty of online tutorials on YouTube to show you how to carry them out on virtually any model.
Always shop around
There are many other ways that you can save money on running a car without compromising on safety, economy, or performance.
One of the major expenses is always going to be insurance, and the more expensive the car is, the higher it will be. But costs vary greatly between different insurers, so it pays to look around and use sites like The Zebra and compare.com if you want to get the best deal.
The same is true if you’re looking for finance to get behind your dream car. Different banks and finance companies offer different rates. Choosing the right one could save you thousands of dollars over the period that you’re paying for the car. Plus, the bigger the deposit you’re able to put down, the better the deal is likely to be.
Last but not least, there will always be savings to be made by using the cheapest gas you can find. It may just be a difference of a few cents a gallon, but over the year, savings can gradually mount up. Checking in your area is easy thanks to sites like gasbuddy.com, and you could also qualify for other money-saving features.
So follow these tips and look forward to issue-free driving that’s sure to cost you less and avoid financial setbacks.
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