Agents of Drive - A car blog by a team of undercover agents(ish

3 people, 6 cars and a whole lotta fun!

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Featured
  • Cars
  • Car Buying
  • In Car Stuff
  • Driving Guides
  • Contact Me

10 simple steps to drive down the cost of motoring

February 24, 2016 4:17 pm Filed to: Driving Guides by Jerry

Everyone likes to save money. When it comes to driving around, there are some pretty easy ways to save. Using common sense, changing small habits and being smart when you buy your car are all crucial. Here’s Carspring’s top tips to help save you cash when you’re out and about:

credit-squeeze-522549_960_720

1) Drive economically

This is one of the easiest ways to save money. Take it easy on the throttle and change up before you hit the high revs. Also, don’t brake too quickly as this wastes energy. And, as much as everyone likes to keep the temperature at a nice consistent level, turn that air con off. However, when it comes to saving fuel the most effective way is simply to slow down. Unfortunate, but true.

2) Pick an economical car

Cars are getting more economical, so this one is becoming easier all the time. You don’t have to drive around in a weird looking hybrid anymore. And, although a supermini is always going to be the most efficient, it’s really all about finding the most economical model for the type of car you’re looking for. Economical cars not only save you cash on fuel, but also on tax, London Congestion Charge and your insurance premiums.

3) Keep your car in good health

Prevention is always cheaper than the cure. Recommended service frequencies are there for a reason, so take notice to what it says in your car’s owner’s manual. But really, this is all about doing the little things. Make sure that you keep your tyre pressure at recommended PSI and that engine fluids are the correct levels. Using the latest diagnostics apps on your smartphone also lets you know if there are any issues on the horizon.

4) Beat the insurers

There are plenty of ways to save on your insurance bills. Obviously shopping around is the easiest, with the explosion in price comparison sites. Also, think about whether you can cope with basic cover, as insurance companies will always try and upsell. Other ways to save are to add a safe driver to your cover, increase your excess to save on your premiums, or appease the insurers with a ‘black box’ system, that monitors your driving habits.

5) Empty your car of rubbish

We all hoard unnecessary junk in our boot. But what you may not realise is how much it’s costing you in. Classic boot detritus includes sports equipment, old walking boots, and tools. Many people also consider it a good place to store rubbish. Whatever you’re keeping in your boot, your laziness in leaving it there is wasting fuels and costing you cash, so take it out.

6) Don’t waste cash at the garage

When it comes to servicing, again, shop around. This isn’t just about going for a place that offers the cheapest price, but the most dependable service. Alternatively, you can consider doing some of the repair work yourself. If you have sound knowledge about cars and how they work, then find engine rebuild parts or whatever else you need to successfully maintain your car. When it comes to your MOT, double check the little things like your headlights, windscreen and tyres first to see if there’s anything you can do yourself. You should also consider using council-run MOT centres, as they have no vested interest in exaggerating repair bills.

7) Be forecourt smart

Be smart when you buy your fuel. Always avoid buying at motorway service stations, as they’re always more expensive. Try using a cashback card, such as an American Express, giving you 5% cashback on fuel purchases. Also, unless you’ve got a high performance car, don’t opt for ‘high performance’ fuel – it costs more and doesn’t make much difference. For those real penny-pinchers, there are now websites out there where you can find the cheapest petrol station in your area.

8) Make your car pay

Ok, so this one is money-making rather than money-saving. There are an increasing number of ways you can monetise your car. Whether it’s hiring it out on sites such as Drivejoy, sharing it on sites such as Bla Bla Car, or even becoming an Uber driver. You can also help cover costs by turning your car into a mobile billboard, with addition of commercial vinyls to advertise a product or service.

9) Ensure you don’t buy a lemon

Don’t buy a piece of junk. Yes, this is easier said than done. There are plenty of dealers out there who are looking to make a quick buck. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. And, in reality, it’s going to cost you a whole lot more in the long run. Carspring cars all go through a stringent multi-stage inspection process including a 128-point AA inspection and an assessment by the in-house team.

10) Buy a used car

New car depreciation costs you a bomb. The difference between the new list price and the price after a year is actually incredible. Although, this varies from car to car, you’re usually looking at around 20%. However, for some models, such as BMW 3 series, you can be talking about losing up to 12,000 in the first year alone. You can find what you’re looking for buying used these days, so it hardly seems worth it. Take a look at the models we have to offer and see how much you can save.

TAGGED WIDTH auto, bikes, driving tips, lifeontheroad, motorcycles, roadlife

Previous post
Audi Performance Tuning
Next post
Protecting Your Car from Sun Damage

Recent Posts

  • Does CBD Oil Help Relieve Acid Reflux
  • Do CBD Gummies Work? The Truth About Edibles – According to Psychologist Anastasia Filipenko
  • How to Rent a Car with Discount Code and Save Money?
  • Things to Know Before Getting a High-Output Alternator
  • Reasons to Do a DIY Car Stereo Installation

Categories

  • Aston Martin (1)
  • Audi (4)
  • Bikes and Cycles (6)
  • Car Buying (35)
  • Cars (106)
  • Convertible (1)
  • Driving Guides (19)
  • Entertainment Only (4)
  • Featured (25)
  • First Drive (1)
  • Ford (4)
  • Future Cars (4)
  • Hyundai (1)
  • In Car Stuff (8)
  • Injury (4)
  • Lamborghini (1)
  • Mercedes (1)
  • mini (1)
  • Motor Sport (1)
  • New Cars (5)
  • Reviews (9)
  • Toyota (3)
  • Truck Buyers (2)
  • Volkswagen (6)

OUR VALUED SPONSORS

SPONSORED LINKS

Special Offers : Save on quality tires with these manufacturer's promotions available from Tire Rack.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

POPULAR PORSCHE POSTS

Does CBD Oil Help Relieve Acid Reflux

Do CBD Gummies Work? The Truth About Edibles – According to Psychologist Anastasia Filipenko

How to Rent a Car with Discount Code and Save Money?

Things to Know Before Getting a High-Output Alternator

Reasons to Do a DIY Car Stereo Installation

3 Myths About Leasing a Vehicle Busted, How You Can Lease a Toyota Today

Find us on Facebook

  • November 2022
  • May 2022
  • February 2022
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014

Some Reader Favorites

Does CBD Oil Help Relieve Acid Reflux

Do CBD Gummies Work? The Truth About Edibles – According to Psychologist Anastasia Filipenko

How to Rent a Car with Discount Code and Save Money?

Things to Know Before Getting a High-Output Alternator

Reasons to Do a DIY Car Stereo Installation

Latest Tweets

  • Noisli - background noise and color generator for working and relaxing http://t.co/1YU7uPET9Z @noisliover a year ago
  • How to Build a Mobile App That Empowers Your Brand http://t.co/CyZtYDgjl4over a year ago
  • Я смотрю трансляцию NASAtelevision в прямом эфире на @Ustream! Присоединяйтесь http://t.co/SPe2NL4tbp !over a year ago

Looking For Something?

STAY CONNECTED WITH FLATSIXES

Back to top

Copyright © Flatsixes.com 2015 · All Rights Reserved

Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Tweet