Maintenance costs account for a very significant proportion of the total cost of operating a car. A car is a continuous expense for its maintenance, starting from fuel and insurance and ending with maintenance and repair. Unfortunately, you are unlikely to significantly reduce the cost of owning a car without harming the car itself. But you can still save a little. And every day. In the annual period, this saved money can be formed into a quite decent amount. Here are the easiest ways to slightly reduce the cost of maintaining your car. In this article, we will tell about whether it is possible to save money and how exactly.
But first, it is important to know the main things you should not be greedy with in any case. It is the quality of filters and oils. Such savings will certainly come out sideways. Always change them on time – in accordance with the instructions. The engine oil must be changed at least once a year, even if the mileage during this time is minimal because it is oxidized in an idle engine.
So what can you save on this case?
Monitor the technical condition of the car and carry out all recommended technical work
Study the manual for your car or the service book, which specifies the schedule of maintenance work. Car repairing service centers always fill in this info. Control the timing of the passage so that your car is always in good technical condition.
Late maintenance of the car can lead to terrible consequences. Qualified car repairing service will help you with car electrical repair and with the most complicated issues. So it’s better not to bring it to this and proceed with car scanning and diagnostics in a timely manner.
Purchase spare parts yourself
Do not delegate this to intermediaries – you will save on overpayment of the price of the car shop, or on the “service fee” of the purchase. Regardless of how it is called and under what pretext it is done, money will be taken for it. With an independent purchase, you can not only avoid overpayment but also choose the most favorable options in terms of price or take advantage of various promotions and discounts.
Use analogs instead of the original
Significant savings can be brought by the purchase of non-original spare parts, and their analogs made by well-known manufacturers and no less high-quality. This is especially true for the most popular consumables because automakers do not make the same pads and candles, but order from well-known suppliers. So, information about analogs and the interchangeability of components will be very useful for those who want to save a budget.
Сhange tires in time
It is not necessary to delay the moment of changing tires, especially for summer ones, since winter tires wear out very quickly when driving on asphalt and especially if you travel a lot. Swap the wheels when changing seasonally. This will ensure their uniform wear and you will not have to buy new tires or a whole set due to premature wear of one or two wheels. Keep track of tire pressure and proper balancing to prevent accelerated tread wear.
By the way, tires are just those consumables on which you can try to save money. The choice of tires today is huge – for every taste and purse. But do not rush to extremes, choose the cheapest rubber. It may turn out that all the initial savings will come to naught due to the lower cost of inexpensive tires. It is better to choose average prices – for example, those produced by us under license or at subsidiaries of Russian enterprises of global tire brands.
Save on battery
Another component on which you can try to save money is the battery. Their choice is also extremely large, including the price. At the same time, it is absolutely not necessary that a more expensive battery will be better. Very often, batteries that are moderate in cost have excellent characteristics.
So as you see there are many alternatives. But be careful, saving on small things will save your budget but sometimes such savings can be disastrous.
