Save on car ownership

How to save on car ownership
Saving Money on Car Repairs

Saving money on car repairs can sound like a lot of work, right? Sometimes you may ask yourself, "Should I keep my old car or buy a new one?" If you really want to save money, the answer is, keep your old one.

Your car may feel like a money pit sometimes but here is some advice on avoiding some of the most expensive mistakes a car owner can make.

1. Riding on low tires: Consumer Reports says that this can cost up to $100 a year on wasted fuel alone. Low tire pressure can cost money other ways as well.

• Causes tires to wear out faster and therefore have to be replaced more often
• Effects safety and handling of your vehicle

Remember when checking your tire pressure it is best done when the tires are cool, so wait about an hour after driving to check the pressure.
Also, if you are not sure what the correct pressure should be, check the outside wall of the tire itself, the sticker on the car door jam or take a look in your owners' manual.

2. Service without checking prices: This can be a costly mistake as prices can range widely.
Take the time to find the best deal and make sure that they are offering what you need and not tacking on extras that you don't.

I saved $200 by making just one five minute phone call about getting my breaks fixed. The first place I talked to was quoting me $400. They were including rotors that I didn't need.

Where you buy matters, different places have different programs. Again, I saved $50 on a $90 battery because I kept my receipt and knew that the battery I bought had a rebate if it didn't last as long as the warranty.

3. Keep your receipts: This last point I cannot stress enough. Make this convenient for yourself. Keep a file folder of receipts for car repairs or keep an envelope with your owners' manual. This will not only help with warranty items but will also help with the resale value of your car.


As you can see, a small amount of effort can really save money on car repairs!

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• car ownership
• saving money on car repair
• personal finance
• money start here
• Denise Winston
• repair
• ways to save
• how to check tire pressure