pro finance blog
Menu
  • About Me
  • Hire Me
  • Contact Me
  • Submit a Guest Post
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
Menu
Running Costs For Your Car

10 Tips To Cut Running Costs For Your Car

Posted on August 14, 2017June 11, 2020 by Tina Roth

Saving up for a home loan? New car or holiday? Every cent counts no matter which aspect it is coming from. Having a car is one of them. It is a privilege to have yet is quite costly to purchase and to maintain. Keeping it in top notch can be difficult if you do not have much knowledge about these automobiles.

Running Costs For Your Car

These automobiles are not invincible given the condition of your driving style, roads and other major factors. Some things are easier to control and maintain than others.

Here are some tips to help you save, so that you can enjoy other things in life.

Petrol Cost

Petrol for your car is quite unavoidable unless you have an electric powered car. Petrol is actually the most expensive running cost for your vehicle. Cost can vary from as little as $20 to as high as $100 a week depending on your use.

Though like any type of purchase, you are given the chance to browse for cheaper alternatives. It may be difficult to browse when you are already running low, though if you plan before hand you could potentially save up to 10c per litre at times. There are Apps where you can find cheap petrol prices nearby, so you know where to go and what route to take. You shouldn’t be waiting until your fuel tank is almost empty before filling up – otherwise you may be left with a station that has a hefty price. 

Carpooling

No doubt the best way to save on running costs is to not use your vehicle altogether. If you can lock in a lift or carpool for work or outings, it will save you quite a bit, not only in petrol but wear and tear of your car. Take turns carpooling and you could possibly cut your mileage, fuel and car expenses in half!

The Route

Taking the shortest and at times the fastest route isn’t always the best way to go in terms of money saving for fuel. Take the recommended route from your GPS which is typically labelled under “economy” or, if you do know, take the route with the fewest stop signs and lights relative to the distance. Not only are you wasting fuel but also wearing out your brakes and tyres.

Brakes

The brakes relatively have a long life span, though they are costly to replace. To extend their life, you can slowly step on the brakes to slow down avoiding any hard-braking, especially in the rain. This can wear your brake pads and warp your rotors. So a general tip is if you see a light or stop sign above don’t continue accelerating and let it roll while slowly easing on the brakes.

Acceleration

Avoid stomping on the brakes or getting as fast as you possibly can to the speed limit. This will use more fuel. Gradually accelerate so that your RPM’s stay around 2,500. This is the most economical range for acceleration.

Speed

Having a higher speed uses more power from the car than you actually think. Not only does it require more power from the engine but the air becomes thicker requiring even more power from the engine to increase speed intervals. Driving at 100km/h is like driving constantly through cake. Managing your speed along with acceleration can help you conserve quite a bit of fuel.

Weight Reduction

Keeping your vehicle as light as possible is ideal. Avoid hauling or carrying heavy objects if you do not need to. This also requires more power and acceleration from the car.

Straighten The Alignment

If your vehicle’s alignment is out of place it will wear out the tyres and also use more power to accelerate the car. Of course any uneven tyre wear will result in a shorter lifespan and quality tyres are not cheap at all especially for all four. A wheel alignment is recommended 3 to 4 times annually.

Tyres

Having deflated or overly inflated tyres can not only affect fuel efficiency but also the handling.A deflated tyre requires more power from the engine to keep it moving. Make sure you check the tyre pressure and is pumped to the required standards. If you are running stock wheels and tyres you can typically locate the correct tyre pressure for your from your car’s door sill or bonnet.An overly inflated tyre may pose a problem on the handling and grip of the vehicle.

Automotive Services

If there are any identified issues with the car – make sure that it does get a proper car service and check. It may lead to bigger and more expensive problems down the line if avoided. The minor services you can also attempt yourself. It would be almost half the cost since you do not have to pay for the labour work. Things like changing the oil, filters and fluids are relatively easy. But make sure that you do do proper research or have someone there to advise you.

Ultimately, to save money on the running costs of your car is to be fuel efficient as well as considering the wear and tear of your car parts when driving. This will all add up month after month and year after year. With the petrol price on the rise, there is no better time to act than now. It also benefits the environment.

Category: Personal Finance

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Me

finance blogger

The idea of starting a blog has been hitting me for long; I took it seriously after falling into a spiral of debt and recovering from it.

I have been anxious all through the financial difficulties. I see that same anxiety in the eyes of people, whose ill fate has put them at odd with financial repose.

It makes me compassionate. Out of this compassion and goodwill, I started this blog. I wanted to help all those, who are facing financial distress..




  • Stock Market
    Understanding the Gov Tech MarketFebruary 16, 2023
  • Phuket Real Estate
    Why You Should Invest in Phuket Real EstateJanuary 24, 2023
  • Corporate Governance
    Corporate Governance: What Are the 3 Core Principles of Good Corporate Governance?December 17, 2022
  • Successful Retirement
    How To Plan For Successful Retirement At 50: 5 Steps To Get Started OnNovember 4, 2022
  • Online Money Transfer
    Do You Still Transfer Money Internationally With Your Bank? There Are Better Online Solutions For ThatOctober 14, 2022
  • finance
    Important Roles of the Minister of FinanceSeptember 16, 2022
  • Avoid for New Businesses
    5 Forecasting Faux Pas to Avoid for New BusinessesSeptember 16, 2022
  • Affecting Pensions
    How Inflation Is Affecting PensionsSeptember 2, 2022

    ProFinance Blog is dedicated to help people who are struggling with their personal finances. We have learned the lessons first hand and know how real the struggle is. Being compassionate about the personal finances and blogging about is our way to help people know more about different situations and how effectively they can handle it. So take control of your finances now and take actions towards gaining financial freedom and security. Join us in the mission to self-educate, learn and help others by sharing valuable information on finances. Here you will find information, tools and techniques on various aspects of finances and learn how you can use the information and implement it to make your financial life better than ever.Join us in our mission to financial freedom.

    • Stock Market
      Understanding the Gov Tech Market
    • Phuket Real Estate
      Why You Should Invest in Phuket Real Estate
    • Corporate Governance
      Corporate Governance: What Are the 3 Core Principles of Good Corporate Governance?
    © 2023 ProFinance Blog | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme