Top 10 ways to save money for motorists
Being a motorist is expensive - there’s no two ways about it. For many of us though, owning and running a car is an essential rather than a luxury. So, what can motorists do to make driving more economical? Check out our top 10 tips for saving money on your motor.
1. Drive with fuel efficiency in mind
If there’s one thing that eats away at a motorists’ paycheck, it’s car fuel. Unfortunately, if you need to drive regularly, you’ll be hard pushed to avoid this car-driving cost. But, there are ways you can alter your driving slightly to help you be more fuel efficient, and therefore save money as a motorist. Try and keep the roaring accelerations to a minimum and drive smoothly at a constant (and safe) speed and this should help you cut down the amount of fuel you use. Stuck in traffic? If you’re sitting still for long enough, it might be more efficient to switch the engine off than leave it idling.
2. Keep your tyres at the correct pressure
Keeping your tyres pumped up to the right pressure will also help you save money in terms of fuel efficiency. Tyres that aren’t inflated enough will take more energy (and therefore fuel) to roll. If you’re not sure what pressure your tyres should be, there’s normally a sticker somewhere in the car that tells you - either inside the petrol cap or somewhere near on the driver’s door frame. Failing that, check your manual. Most petrol stations will have an air machine and tyre pressure gauge that can be used for your tyres - or you can buy tyre pressure gauges for the home. See? No excuse!
3. Shed any excess weight
Yet another fuel economy tip here for you money saving motorists. If you’re carrying around everything AND the kitchen sink in your boot, your car will be working harder to get up to speed. Anything you don’t need in your car, get rid of! It’s as simple as that. Make sure you keep the essentials though: the spare wheel does not count as excess weight...
4. Plan ahead on long journeys
Going on a long journey? Make sure you fill your car up first. Petrol stations at supermarkets are often cheaper than those at motorway services. Why spend more money on something on the journey when you can probably get it cheaper at home? This works for food too. Do you need to spend £10 on a service station burger? Get creative and make yourself a packed lunch instead. Yummy.
5. Check your exhaust
Holey exhausts make a horrible racket - and they cost money too. A poorly fitted exhaust or one that has a hole in it will result in your using more fuel than you need to (that’s right motorists - it’s another fuel economy tip!) Keep an eye on the condition of your exhaust and don’t ignore it if you think it could do with some work. This goes for most aspects of car maintenance - things only get more expensive if you leave them.
6. Think before you drive
Do you need to drive to the shop? Can you walk to work? Little journeys in the car that could be made in other ways are a sure fire way to waste money as a motorist. There are plenty of ways to avoid it - instead of popping to the shop every evening, can you wait a few days and just go in your car once? If you live near one of your colleagues, car sharing is a great way to save money on your car. You’ll be spending less on petrol and doing less miles in your motor. Plus there’s someone to talk to when you’re stuck in traffic. Lovely.
7. Be careful where you park
Clamps and parking fines are pretty easy to avoid - just don’t park where you’re not supposed to! Having said that, everyone makes mistakes. If you’re not sure if you’re allowed to leave your car where you’ve stopped, ask someone nearby - they may know the area a bit better than you. If you can see a double yellow line, even if it’s faded, a traffic warden will be able to see it too. If a traffic warden can see it, you’re in line for a fine.
8. Shop around for car insurance
Car insurance is one of the biggest one-off costs for motorists. If you’re looking for cheap car insurance, the best way to find a good deal is to consider your options. If you’re car insurance is up for renewal, compare your renewal quote to other quotes for the same policy. If you find a cheaper one, contact your current insurer as they may be willing to match the price to keep your custom. If you live at a property with multiple cars and multiple drivers, some insurers offer ‘multi-car’ policies, where a number of cars are insured on the same policy. This can provide a saving compared with insuring a car on its own.
9. Be sensible with your car tax
Car tax must be paid. There is no avoiding it. However, there are ways to save time and money on car tax as a motorist. Applying for car tax online means you don’t have to spend time queuing up and postage is free. If you know your car is going to be completely off the road for at least six months, you don’t have to pay road tax on it. You must, however, declare it off the road by applying for a SORN notice from the DVLA. Leaving your road tax to lapse and parking it on the drive is not good enough - do this and you may just get the DVLA on your case.
10. Drive carefully!
This is probably the all-encompassing money saving tip for motorists. Driving carefully will help you save money on fuel (see Tip 1). Sticking to the speed limit will not only help make you a safer driver, it will also stop you getting speeding fines and from getting the points on your licence that being caught speeding can create. In terms of driving, points definitely don’t mean prizes - they mean more expensive insurance premiums. Drive carefully and you’re also less likely to have accidents - even little dings in car parks can cost money.
And there you have it. Our top 10 tips for motorists who want to save money. Looking for a new car? You may just be able to find the motor of your dreams on the Friday-Ad Motors site.
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