The majority of people can drive and own a car. You might be one of the few who use public transport to get to a central city place of work, but if you commute in a car you’ll know it’s not cheap. Not just for gas and oil changes but for general wear and tear that comes with owning a car. It can be a real financial drain. For many of us, not having a car isn’t an option, so we’re stuck for the time being with a depreciating (losing value) asset that also requires maintenance. However, there are ways that you can extend the life of your car and keep it running for longer!

Maintain High Fuel Efficiency

Ensuring your car maintains its fuel efficiency is paramount if you want to keep the costs down. The only thing worse than paying or gas is paying for more of it than you have to! One thing to look into are additives, as they can help. They’ll break down any buildup in your fuel system to allow your car to better process the fuel. Doing this twice a year for gas vehicles should be enough, with diesel engines they tend to use their own ad blue solution these days. Changing your fuel filter at intervals can do the same thing. It should be part of your annual service too, so make sure the mechanic overseeing the work changes it out. You can also do other thing like maintain the proper tire pressure, and avoid driving like you’re in the Fast and the Furious by accelerating and decelerating quickly. Or perhaps you can opt next time you buy a car to get a more fuel efficient one, or even an electric car! Focusing on these can go help your car maintain a high fuel efficiency.

Protect against the Elements

Mother nature can really cause additional wear and tear on your car, and although insurance may cover some of it (i.e. hail damage, hitting a deer etc, cracked windshield), you may still have to pay out of pocket for some of the charges. There are extra protection measures that you can do in addition to having good insurance. An example is with protective paint that can stop scratches damaging the bodywork, same with tree sap or bug residue. Covering your seats can protect them too, especially if you’re often putting things on the seats or have your windows open, allowing water to get to them, just make sure you use something like neoprene fabric to truly seal out water and other liquids which could damage the inside of your car. Protecting your seats is a good bet if you have young children too – BabyMoneyFinance can be a bit messy at times.

Invest In Good Tires

Some countries mandate that you use specific tires depending on what season of the year it is. Making sure you buy good tires can stop an accident down the line where you could end up liable for repairs to your car and if it’s your fault someone else’s too. Having good tires mean they won’t puncture as easy, maintain their tread for longer and grip the road a lot better, especially in wet or windy conditions. The saying buy cheap buy twice really makes sense here. The premium tires may set you back a bit, but they’re a worthwhile investment for all of those who use the roads often.

Get proper, timely maintenance

Proper, regularly schedule maintenance can also go a long way to protecting your vehicle in the long run. The most common and easiest thing to do is get your oil changed every 3,000, 5,000 or 7,500 or however often your manufacturer or the type of oil you use (regular vs synthetic) recommends. Changing you oil is an easy yet effective way of protecting your engine. The auto shop I go to is always recommending this or that, and for the most part I trust them (I do verify with my auto mechanic brother) and do whatever maintenance is recommended (like getting new brakes or doing a fluids flush or changing the air filters).

You rely on your car for a lot, and it’s likely a big investment and can also be a big expense for you! Give your car a little TLC to keep it running affordably for you in the long run!

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