Reducing Car Costs

The blog this week is about how you can reduce costs associated with owning a car. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring, insurance costs are rising etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:

Owning & running a car can be a major expense, especially with the ever increasing fuel prices. As a responsible car owner you can use certain driving techniques to not only decrease fuel consumption but to also reduce other costs when running your Volvo or Toyota throughout the year. The expense of running a car is no joke and can take a huge chunk out of the monthly household budget.

Drive a car with a smaller engine

Fuel prices are pretty high at the moment and do not look likely to decrease in the near future. Filling that tank is now a huge expense for most motorists. Smaller cars do not weigh as much as the bigger models and fuel consumption can be as much as 50% less than larger cars. Choose a car by actual requirements rather than desires. Dropping down to a less powerful car can also save on insurance costs as well as fuel consumption. These are two major ways that you can save money all year and still have the luxury of owning a car.

Seek Out the Lowest Fuel Prices

With diesel and petrol prices increasing it is important to achieve the best prices available. There are petrol comparison sites on the internet that will give updated prices on a range of petrol stations including supermarkets. Obviously if it is a 15 mile round trip to the cheapest petrol station it may not be worth the journey to save a 1p on a litre of fuel! Filling up your tank at non motorway service stations is cheaper normally so try and avoid using motorway service stations. Remember, do not fill a car tank completely; more fuel in the tank means a heavier car and this will increase fuel consumption. Also do not drive around too often with very little fuel as the sediments in the bottom of the tank can cause damage in the long term. Look out for supermarket petrol offers such as 5p off a litre of fuel - these offers can save you £'s over the year!

Sharing the Driving

Car-pooling is one of the most cost-effective ways of cutting fuel costs. Drivers who are car-pooling can take turns using their cars each week or use the car which has the lowest fuel consumption. Car-pooling can greatly decrease the running expense over the course of a year and is better for the environment. If sharing journeys with someone at work, you can automatically cut your fuel consumption in half - fantastic savings for both of you!

Change Your Driving Habits

The way you drive your Volvo or Toyota can make a significant difference to your fuel consumption. We have written many blogs regarding how you can make each litre of fuel last longer. Remove roof racks and de-clutter your car, this will save on fuel consumption. Make sure tyres are properly inflated - consult your owner’s manual for the correct tyre pressures - if in doubt pop into your local independent garage - ACC UK Ltd of Farnborough, Hampshire - Independent Volvo & Toyota Servicing, Repair and MOT Specialists. Avoid warming your car on idle on cold mornings; this wastes a lot of fuel every day.

Shop Around for the Best Insurance Quotes

Insurance is a big expense each year, but it is also a necessity. If your insurance policy is up for renewal, always shop around and obtain quotes from different insurers. Please do not automatically renew your insurance without shopping around first.

Regular Servicing & Repairs

Having a fully serviced and maintained car will save you money in the long run by being more reliable and less likely to breakdown not to mention the fact that the resale value of a car that has been well maintained will be far greater than one that has not.

Roadside Recovery

Roadside recovery is another expense but is it actually cost effective? Have you checked to see if you have this service included in your current bank account benefits - check to see if this is applicable to you! Happy Safe Motoring Folks!

Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire