Tips on Saving Money by Maintaining Your Family Car

A car is one of those things that makes life easier, especially if you have a family. You often have to move around to perform daily tasks such as dropping and picking kids up from school, taking them on days out and running other errands. Unfortunately, cars don’t appreciate in value, so this means it’s in your best interest to actively look for ways to ensure it lasts as long as possible. There are several ways that you can do this, and most require adopting a good maintenance culture. This article is going to give you a few more tips on saving money by maintaining your car that you may find useful. 

Get it Serviced Regularly 

You likely already know this, but it can’t be stressed enough how important servicing your car is. Typically, servicing your car should cost around £125, but shop around as you may find that you can get it a lot cheaper. In terms of how frequently you should service your car, it is advised that you do so at least once a year. You should also bear in mind that there are often replaceable parts that need changing as well as regular maintenance tasks that need to be carried out such as oil changes. 

Learn About Your Car 

Knowing as much about your car as possible is key if you want to maintain it properly. It should help you know when something is wrong or not functioning properly so that you can address it as quickly as possible. Although DIY can come in handy for minor issues, at times, it’s best to go to a professional. The last thing you want is to have to replace parts later on due to failing to notice there was an issue. This will likely end up eating into your budget as a family, which could throw your finances off. When deciding whether to go to a trusted independent garage or your main dealer, consider that sometimes main dealers offer better value, whether it is for fixing faults, replacing parts, or servicing your car.

 

Know When It’s Time to Move on

It’s key that you know when a car is becoming a money pit, and it may be time to let go. If you can’t afford a brand-new car, consider getting a used car that’s portable such as a used Mini instead. For example, by searching for a reliable used Mini Edinburgh on Google, you can find an affordable one in good shape that you and your family can use. They’re also ideal for family cars as they happen to be low emission and you can get £2000 towards a new one with the Mini lower emissions allowance. 

Maintaining a car can be tasking, but if you do it regularly and pay attention to it often enough, you should find that it doesn’t need servicing too often. Overall, by trying some of the tips mentioned above in addition to others, you should find that your car lasts longer without giving you issues. As a result, you should end up saving yourself repair and replacement costs in the long run. 

 Disclosure: This is a contributed post.