8 Things Car Owners Can Do At Home To Save Money
Keeping your car happy doesn’t mean you have to venture outside
Aaron Miller
If you drive your car all the time, you’re probably at least vaguely familiar with the concept of preventive maintenance. Even if you don’t have to partake in a daily commute, that doesn’t mean it’s fine to simply park your car and walk away. The reason is simple: if you let a car sit for a prolonged period of time, the problems—not to mention the associated repair bills—can start piling up.
There’s more to it than that, though. If you aren’t driving every day, it’s a good idea to think about everything from your insurance policy to your cleaning regimen. It may not be apparent at first blush, but lots of factors—even where you park when you get home—can have an impact on your wallet. As a car owner, here are eight things you can do to save money:
Tell Your Insurance Agent Every Time Your Commute Changes
Many insurers may offer a discounted rate if you drive fewer miles. If you find you’re driving less now than you did before, call your insurer and have your policy adjusted to reflect that reduction in mileage. This can save you hundreds of dollars right off the bat—the amount you save varies from state to state, but in many areas
Aaron Miller
Keep Your Car Out of the Sun
Fun fact: the primary purpose of garages isn’t extra storage or to be made into a de-facto gameroom. It’s shelter. Exposure to the elements isn’t generally all that good for vehicles. Shade keeps the sun’s harmful UV rays from damaging what isn’t mentioned in your car’s maintenance schedule, such as your paint job and your dashboard. This is even more important if you drive an EV or hybrid, since heat is the enemy of every car’s battery.
If you don’t drive more than once or twice a week and you don’t have a garage, a good car cover with a long warranty may be your best bet. Along with car covers, sunshades are also helpful to keep the insides pristine from the sun’s harmful rays—even though they won’t do much to actually keep your car cool.
How much you save here depends on a lot of factors, but in the end, it boils down to this: keeping your car as pristine as possible will pay dividends if and when you eventually sell it.
Lighten Up... and Save Some Fuel
Do you treat your trunk like a mobile trash can? Get whatever you don’t need out of there and toss it. Whether it’s old garbage, sports equipment you don’t really use anymore, or a long-lost bag of kitty litter, excess weight can cost you precious MPGs. No matter how much you do or don’t drive, you’ll pay at the pump for the extra junk you haul around—about 1% for every hundred pounds,
Value Your Car’s Shine
A cool morning on a clear day with temperatures in the mid-50s to high-60s can be an ideal time to give your car a good detailing. You could also do things the lazy way: A spray-on paint sealant in a bottle can help keep your car looking like new. It can also cost less than ten bucks, so if you live where the sun is brutal or just want to start slowly, thirty minutes with a spray on wax and a decent microfiber towel can yield great results.
No matter how you do it, maintaining your car’s shine may well be worth the effort—to the tune of 5-10% of the value of your vehicle—when it comes time to trade it in for something newer.
Stay Positive (and Negative) About Your Battery
Open the hood and look at your battery. Is there a white or brown gunk forming around the positive and negative terminals? That’s corrosion, and not only does it inhibit the flow of current, but if allowed to continue unabated, it can ultimately ruin an otherwise good battery. An old toothbrush or scouring pad along with baking soda mixed with water can keep those connections spotless and make the battery last longer. A dead battery is a big deal beyond the hassle: the cost of having a new battery installed can range from under $100, to as high as $2-300, depending on your vehicle.
There are also plenty of devices on the market—called battery maintainers or tenders—designed to keep your battery in tip-top shape by feeding it just enough current to stay charged and prevent the acids within from crystallizing, which would otherwise spell an untimely end to your battery’s life. Regardless, you should know how to start your car without jumper cables, just in case.
Aaron Miller
Learn some basic DIY maintenance
Can you do your own oil change and air filter replacement? Even as vehicles have become more and more complex, oil changes still aren’t hard for most models, and replacing your air filter can be as easy as changing a light bulb. Find how-to videos by typing in your model along with “oil change.” Doing your own basic maintenance will save you a little here and there in the short run, but it adds up over time.
Go Online For Smaller Maintenance Items
You will need small maintenance items as time goes on, and that’s where savings can pile up quickly. While a large auto parts retail chain may charge you over twenty bucks for a windshield wiper, an online parts store may charge you less than five bucks because it doesn’t have the same kind of overhead costs as a retail store. These savings pile up real quick—potentially into the hundreds of dollars, depending on your car’s maintenance needs.
Seek Out Others For Specific Upkeep Guidance
You should always dust off and crack open the owner’s manual to find the maintenance schedule that your car sorely needs, but that’s just the beginning. Search online for whatever car you drive and add the words “enthusiast forum.” Usually, the first few listings will be online groups dedicated to your car. Thousands of contributors can help you plan and prepare for future maintenance and repair needs that may not be mentioned in your owner’s manual. This isn’t about how much you can save, but about how much longer you can keep your car in tip-top shape—which may save you from needing a new car before you’re ready.
