Save Money While Staying on the Road
Having a dependable car is an essential part of most people’s lives. Cars can also have a tendency to empty your wallet if you are not careful. However, there are some simple things you can do to reduce the amount of money you spend on your car. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Buy a Car that is Pre-owned
Unless you are fairly wealthy, buying a new car does not make financial sense. There is an old saying that a large portion of a new car’s value is lost as soon as it is driven off the lot. This is actually a true statement. You pay the retail price when you buy a new car. As soon as the car is driven, it becomes only worth the wholesale price. This is the amount that the dealer would pay you if they bought it back from you. The difference between retail and wholesale price can be as much as 20 percent. Every year, the average car usually loses 15-20 percent of its total value. To put it simply, you will never see a solid return on your investment when you eventually sell the car. Your best bet is to buy a used car and let another person take the initial depreciation hit. There are “certified pre-owned” programs that are offered by many of the major car makers. These programs take all of the risk out of buying a used car. The cars are put through strict certification tests, and extended warranties are offered in many cases. You can also save on car insurance when purchasing a pre-owned car, it is worth comparing prices before buying.
On the road again……. by cvanstane, on Flickr. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Do Your Own Maintenance
If your vehicle’s transmission needs to be changed out or your engine needs to be rebuilt, then you obviously need a skilled mechanic. However, there are many simple tasks that people continue to pay mechanics to do when they do not need to. For example, an oil change. There seems to be an oil change shop on every corner. To change the oil and filter, you just need to put an oil pan under the vehicle, turn the bolt that acts as the plug, and let the oil drain into the pan. Then replace the bolt and remove the oil filter by unscrewing it. Replace it with a new filter and pour in some new oil. Now you are finished. Why pay someone to do that? Replacing the air filter is another task that is easy to do yourself on most vehicles.
Check Your Tyre Pressure
Check your tyre pressure and you would be amazed at how much money this one simple task can save you during the life of your car. When your tyres are not inflated to their proper levels, the tyres do not roll as easily as they should. This causes the engine to strain harder to turn the wheels, resulting in a higher amount of gas consumption. You don’t need to do this every day. Once a week should be enough to help keep your gas mileage more efficient.
uniquedesign52 / Pixabay
Don’t Buy Accessories from a Dealer
Car dealers make a fortune by selling upgrades and accessories for cars that are new. Most people do not understand that the markup on these items is massive. A person can save as much as 50 percent by simply shopping around for accessories that are after-market. There are auto parts stores and websites to find the parts you need, so don’t make the dealer wealthier than he already is.
