How to Save Money on Car Expenses

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By Jeramy Colvin
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Car Expenses

Saving money on car expenses has become increasingly important with the challenges in the economy. We love our cars, and despite money challenges a car is often a necessity. Here are some sure fire steps to save money on car expenses.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Tire pressure gauge

Step 1

Car Oil Change

Forget the the every 3,000 mile oil change rule. Most car owners actually get their oil changed too soon. Many years ago, the standard was to get your cars oil changed every 3,000 miles. However, newer cars most often only need an oil change every 7,500 miles. This is especially true if you use synthetic oil in your car, which may last even much longer. Only cars that are driven in commercial applications, such as taxis may need more frequent oil changes. Synthetic oil only needs to be changed when it becomes jet black in color. To extend the life of your oil change, consider changing the cars oil filter in between changes. Also consider changing your car's oil yourself to save even more.
Step 2

Car Tires

Keep your cars tires inflated. There is a reason why it is recommended to check the air pressure on your cars tires frequently. Changes in temperature, driving conditions, and even just time may all impact the air pressure on your cars tires. Check the door jam in your car for the appropriate inflation pressure. Under or over inflation of your car's tires can lead to tire damage, poor gas milage, and even lead to safety concerns when driving.
Step 3

Car Repairs

Shop around for expensive car repairs. There are sometimes huge differences in car repair charges. Car dealers are sometimes the most expensive. Many independent car repair shops charge less, and will often offer the same and sometimes even better service than a dealer. You may also find significant values on car repairs with speciality repair shops, such as Break Shops, and Car Tire stores.
Step 4

Use the car dealer for tricky car repairs. Although using an independent car repair shop will save you money on most repairs, use a dealer when there is a difficult or unusual repair. Such car repairs may included a unusual noise, or perhaps even an intermittent problem. Dealers often have a lot of experience with their own cars, and usual problems may be quickly diagnosed and repaired.
Step 5

Car Extended Warranty

Skip the new car extended warranty. Most new cars carry a warranty that will cover 30,000 miles; some cars offer a 100,000 miles on the drive train. Extended warranties are mostly profit for the car dealer. If you have routine maintenance completed as scheduled, you should be able to avoid most or all of the repairs covered by a cars extended warranty. Additionally, if you don't complete routine maintenance your cars extended warranty will be void.
Step 6

Car Insurance

Review your car insurance policy. Car insurance is a huge expense, and we would all like to save some money on insurance. Despite the belief that you may have a good car insurance rate, it is best to know you do from an annual survey with a few other companies. Also, check to see if you have too much car insurance. As your car ages, you may may want to reduce some of your coverage limits or increase your deductible.
Step 7

Car Windshield Repair

Take care of small car repairs now. For example, a chipped car windshield will cost less than $100 to repair. A new car windshield will cost $500-$1200 to replace. A chip can go to a crack in no time, so taking care of small problems early can save you thousands on car expenses.