Owning a car brings one a great number of privileges. First of all, you get the independence of not having to rely on anyone else for transportation. Second, you have the freedom of completely customizing your paths using the waypoints of your own choosing. Finally, there is something symbolic about being behind the wheel; something that makes a person feel in charge of their own life. Unfortunately, being a car owner is not all milk and honey and the expenses that come with this privilege can be great indeed. Luckily, with the right attitude and three simple tricks, you can make owning a car lot less expensive.

1.    Fuel saving tips

The first thing everyone thinks of when it comes to car expenses is the fuel. The amount of fuel that your car consumes depends on many things. The type of vehicle and distance are two most widely known factors, but your driving habits can have even greater impact on this. For instance, rapid acceleration and hard braking can all cause your car to consume more gas, so driving sensibly is the right way to go. In fact, cruising at about 50 mph, whenever you are in a situation to do so, can make you save about $200 each year.

Aside from this having the right motor oil and keeping your tyres inflated are as impactful. Additionally, one of the things most people don’t know about is the fact that the air conditioning tends to waste quite a bit of fuel. This is why setting it to lower or even going completely without it could make a considerable difference in your expense-reducing efforts. Sure, driving like this may be unpleasant, but you will more than make up for it with the amount of money you save.

2.    Buy parts online

One of the greatest expenses of hiring a mechanic to do the full repair of your car lies in the fact that they will probably overprice you for the parts they use. With this in mind, it would probably be for the best if you were to act as your own supplier. Nonetheless, local prices being what they are, you are highly unlikely to get a great deal this way, which is why it might be a far more frugal alternative to simply buy online.

A lot of people avoid this approach because they see it as unsafe, however, this fear usually isn’t justified. All you need to do is be mindful of the reputation of the brand you are purchasing and you should be as safe as you can be. For instance, 265 75r16 tyres you buy online are as reliable as those you get in a shop. In fact, anyone who claims differently should be presented with a pair of these tyres, one bought in a shop and other ordered online and asked to tell the difference.

3.    Saving on insurance

Finally, we come to the issue of insurance and there are several tricks that could make your life significantly easier in this respect. For instance, when it comes to cars older than 10 years, keeping a collision coverage usually isn’t worth the price. In plain numbers, this alone amounts to about 40 percent of the value of your entire insurance policy. Next, in a case where your car travels more than 5,000 miles each year, you are probably entitled to a certain mileage discount. Finally, keep an eye on the offer from other insurance companies and don’t be afraid to change the team. Even though it may sound obvious, you would be shocked at how few people actually do this.

Conclusion

Through these three simple examples, it is more than clear that owning a car isn’t necessarily a luxury you cannot afford. In fact, it is as expensive as you allow it to be. To make the long story short, keep your eye on the gas meter, shop for parts online and start looking for ways to cut down your car insurance costs. With these three tips alone you will start making some considerable savings and in time even save up enough for a new (well… almost new) car.

https://www.tyroola.com.au/tyre/265-75-r16/

https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-save-money-on-all-of-your-car-expenses-1289239

http://time.com/money/3974935/save-money-car-gas-repairs-insurance/

http://www.jdpower.com/sites/default/files/2015048%20Auto%20Insurance%20Shopping_Final_Rev.pdf