Owning and running a car is an enormous expense, so it is no surprise that motorists are always looking for ways to slash driving costs. Fortunately, there are actually many different ways that you can do this and when you combine them together it can have a huge impact on your finances in the long run. Read on for a few ways in which you can save money when it comes to both buying and running a vehicle.

Buying Used

Everyone likes the idea of driving a brand new car, but these can cost a fortune so it is much better to buy a used car from a reputable dealership like AA Cars. Places like this also allow you to purchase a vehicle on finance which can make it much easier to manage your money. It is also worth negotiating a price with the dealer as you could save a few hundred pounds if you know how to haggle and there is a lot of helpful information for how to do this online.

Economy

When deciding on what car to purchase, always think about economy as this will have a huge impact on the running costs. A small vehicle with high returns will enable you to make big savings over time, plus it is also better for the environment too. In addition to this, these vehicles also cost less to tax (you do not have to pay any road tax on electric vehicles).

Maintenance

Another large expense is properly maintaining the car. Be sure to stick to your car’s maintenance schedule and regularly make sure that the tyres are inflated to the right level. There are a lot of DIY maintenance jobs that you can do yourself which could help you to make large savings.

Reduce Insurance

Insurance can be very expensive and particularly for young drivers. Fortunately, there are a few different ways that you can reduce your car insurance such as increasing your voluntary excess, securing your car and doing fewer miles.

Drive Sensibly

Making a few slight adjustments to the way that you drive can also have an impact on the running costs. Rapid acceleration, hard braking and speeding can all lower your gas mileage and age the vehicle, so try to drive smoothly and avoid idling if possible.

These are just a few of the ways that you can reduce the amount of money spent on buying and running a car. Driving is an enormous expense and especially if you spend a significant amount of time behind the wheel. Try a few of the above in combination with each other and you could make some huge savings over time