Top tips for cutting down the cost of running a car
Our Cost of Living Campaign – Price Watch highlights the impact of price hikes on our readers
With high petrol prices and a rising cost of living, people are looking for easy ways to save some cash.
Thanks to new research Zuto has put together some top tips on how to slash the cost of your car. From car-sharing schemes to renting out your parking spot, these tips could help you save more than £1,000 a year!
REDUCE THE COST OF YOUR MOT
While there is a maximum test fee set by the government of £54.85, this doesn’t mean that you’ll always have to pay that to get your MOT sorted. Some garages will offer reduced fees to attract new customers.
MAKE MONEY FROM YOUR PARKING SPACE
If you’ve got an empty driveway, spare parking space or a garage you don’t use, you can put the space up for rent on various different websites such as YourParkingSpace or JustPark and make some extra money back from your otherwise empty space.
JOIN A CAR-SHARING SCHEME
transport and petrol costs, carsharing can drastically reduce your outgoings and it could save you up to £1,000 a year in fuel costs!
INVEST IN A CAR WITH LOW EMISSIONS
If you’re in the market for a new car, cars with low CO2 emissions are exempt from car tax charges, whereas new diesel and petrol cars incur a big chunk of money in car tax.
FIND CHEAP CAR PARTS
If your car needs fixing or needs a part replacing, try searching for used car parts on AutoTrader’s used car part
DRIVE MORE EFFICIENTLY
Some simple things such as removing unnecessary weight from your car, not overusing the aircon, driving smoothly, changing gears properly and ensuring your tyre pressure is at the correct level can all contribute to helping you save fuel!
If you’d like to find out more visit www.zuto.com website.
WHAT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR FUEL LAST LONGER? THERE ARE WAYS!
prices are set to hit an all-time high, with current petrol rates currently being 157p per litre, and diesel currently at 170p on average across the country.
Electric cars have seen a six times increase in Google searches over the last two months, showing that the British public is concerned about running out of fuel, reluctant to refill and potentially want to make a switch to electric cars to avoid this happening in the future.
Resident car expert working with findandfundmycar. tips on making your car fuel, ultimately pennies, stretch a little bit further.
CLOSING THE PETROL CAP CORRECTLY
“Ensuring your petrol cap is closed really tight can help your car gain some extra mileage and go that little bit further. So when you next head out to your car, double-check that the cap is as tight as it can be!”
MAKE THE CAR LIGHTER
“The heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it uses. I’m not suggesting that everyone swaps their bigger cars for something smaller, but what I’m suggesting is taking out any junk in your car that isn’t needed for that specific trip.”
CHECK YOUR TYRES
“Tyre rolling resistance, which is the effort required to keep a tyre rolling as you’re driving, counts for around 15 per cent of all fuel consumption.
“This consumption is why it’s important to keep your tyre pressure high.
“Not only does it mean you’ll be driving safely, but you’ll also
TURN THE ENGINE OFF
“If you’re stuck in traffic, or you’ve been stationary for longer than a minute or so, then turn your engine off.
“Leaving your car running even while not moving will burn through fuel quite quickly. Not only that, but it’s also bad for the environment.”
EASY ON THE PEDAL
“Bad driving habits can seriously affect how much fuel you use and it’s the biggest contributor to wasted petrol and diesel.
“Speeding, braking and rapid acceleration waste both petrol and diesel, so it’s important that you drive sensibly: no sudden brakes and no sudden acceleration.
“Drive less like a racecar driver, and more like a road driver.”
Ben Newman has been working at findandfundmycar. com as their resident car expert for two years, helping them produce content on a range of topics from car tips, road advice and how to save money