Driving On a Budget? Here Are Some Tips to Lower Driving Costs
If you’re a car owner, you’ll know how expensive driving can be. Not only do you have to pay the initial payment for the vehicle itself but you have a number of ongoing costs to cover.
Even if you drive safely and avoid any claims, you still have your instance, road tax, and maintenance costs to pay for.
Although owning a car will make a small dent in your wallet (or should we say, in your bank account), it’s a necessity for many of us. Plus, there are lots of great ways to save money on your vehicle so you can reduce your annual expenses.
Here are three money-saving tips that can help you to cut your driving costs.
Find the Lowest Insurance Quote
Car insurance is one of the largest expenses when you’re a driver but it’s a cost that you can’t avoid. It’s illegal to drive without valid auto insurance.
Luckily, you can cut your costs by finding the cheapest car insurance policy. It takes just a few hours to compare the prices from multiple providers but it could potentially save you hundreds of dollars each year.
If your current provider is more expensive than alternatives, make the switch to a new provider when your current policy expires. Time it so that your new policy begins from the day your current policy runs out so that you aren’t driving without insurance.
Add a More Experienced Driver to Your Policy
Adding a more experienced driver to your insurance policy is a simple yet effective way to lower your quote.
Insurance companies generate your premium price based on the risk of your vehicle being in an accident. They will deem your car as safer if you add a driver who has multiple years of experience on the roads.
Place yourself as the main driver of the vehicle and add a number of named drivers to your policy. These main drivers must have several years of experience and no claims on their own insurance policies.
Drive Safely and Efficiently
Safe driving reduces your risk of being in a road traffic accident. If you manage to drive for a full year without receiving any claims on your vehicle, your premium is likely to decrease when you renew your policy.
The longer you drive without receiving any claims, the more your insurance provider trusts you not to crash. As a result, your policy will get lower each year.
Driving efficiently in a gasoline powered car is also key to saving money when you own a car. Efficient driving means no harsh braking and accelerating and driving in the right gear.
When you are gentle on the brake and accelerator pedals, and you drive in the appropriate gears according to your speed, your vehicle’s engine won’t need to work as hard. As a result, it will use less fuel to run properly.
By driving efficiently, you can be much more economical with your fuel consumption. You won’t need to fill up your car as often and you’ll save on fuel expenses.
