Kelley Blue Book Used Cars

Maintaining your car can really be quite expensive. Expenses starts from your purchase of the car to paying for the insurance and maintenance. Add to that, every time your car needs repair, you get the feeling that somehow you’re going to be taken for a ride once you’re in the car repair shop.

Fortunately, there are ways to make certain that you don’t get the short end of the deal when negotiating with the local body shop. If you receive some referrals for honest mechanics, try first to call around and canvass the prices for similar auto repair jobs. It’s always better to get a second opinion.

How about some preventative medicine? Keep your gas tank filled. This will help you avoid the gas line freezing up in cold weather. Also, driving on “fumes” allows little pieces of dirt at the bottom of your gas tank to run through the fuel lines with the last drops of gas. This debris clogs up the fuel filter and can cause carburettor damage as well.

Sometimes a problem with your car’s electrical system results from a simple blown fuse. Check to see if you have any blown fuses before investing in a tow truck! Keep track of how much oil your car uses. A sudden change in oil consumption means you need to see a technician. Save your brakes by having your brake fluid changed every 30,000 miles. Check your tire pressure once a month. This simple maintenance check can add up savings at the gas pump!

Stop and go traffic causes excess wear and tear on your vehicle. Go ahead and give your car a nice twenty minute ride at 55 mph on the highway every couple weeks if you “major” in short trips.

There are other ways to save money on car expenses. Let’s look at the insurance payments.

If you’ve budgeted for possible out-of-pocket expenses in case of a car accident, you might want to consider increasing your insurance deductible to $500. This will lower the cost of your insurance.

Talk to your insurance agent. If your car is as old as the hills, you might want to drop collision coverage to save money.

Car insurance companies offer a variety of discounts. Ask your agent if the company offers reductions for driver training courses, anti-lock brakes, car alarms, air bags, mature drivers, good students or maintaining a good driving record.

Before you purchase from a dealer, ask about the dealer’s return policy, get it in writing and read it carefully. Dealers are not required by law to give used car buyers a three-day right to cancel.

Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gas.

In most cases, using cruise control on the highway will save gas.

Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. This isn’t going to cost you an arm or leg either.

Always do your homework first before going through your car purchase. A lot of cars that were damaged by flooding and hurricanes are now being sold in the market. Beware of these cars because they won’t last long. Soon you will be flooded with repair bills. If the car’s carpet looked too new, that should raise a red flag. Also, look closely for any signs of rust.

If you’re using your car for your business, always track of the miles you have covered because you can use this for tax deduction. You can get more info on this at the IRS website. When you think of all the ways you can save more money on your present car, you would not hesitate to save the money each month for the purchase of a new car.