Smart Ways To Cut The Cost Of Driving

Owning and driving a car is an expensive business and costs seem to be rising all the time. At a time when finances are tight for many and the cost of everyday living is taking its toll, keeping the cost of running a car as low as possible will help with the continuous strain on the finances.

There are some simple tips that, added together, can significantly reduce the cost of keeping your car on the road.

Change Your Driving Style.

Fast accelerating and heavy breaking all use more fuel. By adopting a more steady style of driving by accelerating smoothly and breaking early will not only save on fuel but is also a safer way to drive. Read the road ahead and be a proactive driver, being prepared, rather than reacting at the last minute to changes in the flow of traffic.

Reduce your speed.

Reducing your speed can have a marked decrease in the amount of fuel used. Reducing your speed from 70 to 50 miles an hour can make savings of up to 20%. Ok, it will take a little longer to reach your destination, but losing only a few minutes in time is worth the savings.

Fill up at cheaper stations.

Don’t fill up at your usual fuel station out of habit. Compare prices and fill up when you are passing a garage which sells cheaper fuel.

Unload the car.

Making the car work harder by having to carry unnecessary weight will mean burning more fuel. Empty the boot of all unneeded items.

Remove the roof rack

Having a roof rack or top box on the car will reduce the drag coefficient of the car. This will also require the car to work harder and increase the engine’s demand to burn fuel.

Maintenance.

A properly maintained car will be more efficient. It may be tempting to avoid the cost of regular routine maintenance but having to run a less efficient motor or having to pay out for damage caused as a result of it not being maintained properly can end up costing more.

Leave the car at home.

Do you actually need to use the car? Many trips we do can easily be down on foot, it is just habit and laziness that often leads us to drive instead. Think about every journey you do in the car and leave it behind if you can get to where you need to go by cheaper means. Leaving the car and walking will not only save you money but is healthier as well.

By following these simple tips the cost of driving can be kept as low as possible. In these financially hard times, finding smart ways to save money on the costs of running a car all help, as every saving counts.