How to reduce your Car Maintenance Cost
Let’s face facts: owning a car costs you a lot. Far from just the initial price of buying the thing, you then have to contend with depreciation losses, taxes, gas, maintenance and more. There are some costs, like depreciation, that you can’t do much about. A new car loses 20 percent of its value as soon as you start it the first time and drive it off the lot. There are other costs, however, like car maintenance costs, which you can mitigate by following a few tips and tricks.
Here’s how you can reduce your car maintenance cost
1. Shop around for mechanic services
Many will just visit the nearest mechanic, or perhaps someone they know. Even a mechanic friend should understand that this is business, and you have to get the best deal for yourself. It’s a buyer’s market out there. Use Google to find high-rated and great-value offers. You could also look out for package deals or annual maintenance plans that cover everything.
2. Go for the newest model
If you change cars regularly either through leasing or purchasing, always go for newer models. The key parts of a new car are usually guaranteed for up to 3 years, ensuring that you will likely have to pay no maintenance on it at all if anything goes wrong.
3. Drive safely
Driving according to the manual’s recommended guidelines is another sure-fire way to keep everything ticking over nicely. Driving over the speed limit, taking a car off-road, over-taxing the suspension or steering — all take their toll. Stick to the limits and drive the car within its performance parameters.
4. Keep up with regular minor maintenance
This one seems counterintuitive to some because what we’re saying here is spend some money on maintenance to save money on maintenance. It sounds wrong, but it couldn’t be more right. Simple tasks like filter changes, tire pressure checks, tire rotation, and fluid level checks can all save you money because you can catch small problems and fix them while they’re small. The bigger the problem, the bigger the repair bill.
All of these things and a good dollop of common sense can all help you to reduce your car maintenance cost. Use your head, don’t take risks, and keep up to date with the car’s check-ups and you’ll be driving happy for many years to come.
