Many households across the country are struggling to manage their budgets amid the cost of living crisis.
Although the Chancellor announced that fuel taxes would not increase with inflation, the cost of running a car is still high.
That’s why experts at dealership brand Peter Vardy have shared some changes drivers can make to save up to £1,400.
5 tips to make your car last longer
Here are the tips from the car experts:
Add another driver to your insurance
If you’re new to driving, experts advise naming a parent on your insurance policy could save your premiums by hundreds of pounds.
A study conducted by Uswitch found that new drivers can save an average of £426 a year this way.
Avoid buying premium fuel for standard cars
Most retailers claim that premium fuels offer better performance and economy and can even protect your engine, but the experts disagree.
The experts claim that unless you drive a premium car, you probably won’t see any benefit in premium fuel.
Premium fuel costs an average of 10p more per liter meaning drivers can save up to £138.32 a year by not using it.
(PA) Drivers can avoid higher costs by going to supermarket garages (Image: PA)
Haggling for car insurance
Haggling for your insurance coverage can save you up to £100, which Money Saving Expert has found to have an 80% success rate.
Refueling in supermarket garages
Typically, supermarket garages are cheaper than branded garages, meaning this switch could save motorists around £74 a year.
Conducting your own car maintenance checks
By doing your own regular car maintenance checks, identifying standard wear and tear and fixing it before it becomes a problem, you can avoid paying the average annual repair cost of £574.
Cashback credit cards on fuel
When you buy your petrol or diesel with a cashback credit card (like Santander’s 123 accounts) you get 3% cashback for every tank of fuel.
Filling up your car every two weeks will save you £52.68 all year round.
Pay your vehicle tax annually instead of monthly
Spreading the cost of your road tax costs more in the long run, which is why paying the whole year up front can save you around £29 a year.
Your money matters
Your Money Matters is a campaign launched by us and our sister titles on Newsquest to help you overcome the rise in the cost of living.
This year has seen a slew of household price hikes – from raising the energy price cap to soaring inflation and food prices – that have cost your family hundreds or even thousands of extra pounds a year.
We make it our mission to take care of your money by offering savings, contests, giveaways and insightful stories from your community about how this cost of living crisis is impacting our readers.
The global energy crisis, exacerbated by the invasion of Ukraine, the financial fallout from the Covid pandemic, record high inflation and a rise in the cost of goods, fuel and travel mean we will all feel the pinch.
With our newspaper we want to do everything in our power to make your money better known because we know that your money is important.
