Extending a car warranty will help protect you the car buyer against the unforeseen costs of the unexpected failure of specified components of the car.

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Ways To Save Some Cash On The Rising Costs Of Motoring

As the global economic crisis tightens its grip on us all, we can do little things to help ourselves by thinking of ways in which we can cut down on costs, whether it be groceries, utilities or extra expenses. One area which we all seem to be acutely aware of in the present climate, particularly last year when we saw oil prices rocket, is that of motoring.

Is it at all possible to cut the cost of our motoring prices without skimping on safety? Well, yes it is & it is easier than you may at first think.

Motoring costs have risen by about 56% in the past 20 years. It is estimated by Direct Line that 1 household vehicle costs nearly the same as the average monthly mortgage payment . Around £511 - including insurance, petrol, parking, servicing, breakdown cover & depreciation - in fact! Finance payments are only an average of £68 lower. A quarter of drivers sign up to a dealership finance arrangement and end up paying almost double the typical rate for a personal loan for the privilege!

So firstly, when purchasing a vehicle you should consider the means by which you intend to do so! Secondly, choose your make and model carefully: insurance, tax & general servicing prices should be looked at before you go jumping into bed with your dream car, only to find that you cannot afford to run the thing! Shop around and try to get the best deals that will be better for you in the long term as you may find that that initial saving will fly through the window once you've been driving your new acquisition for a few months.

Whilst driving your vehicle, whether it be a sparkly new model or something a bit more dated, costs can be cut by taking heed of a few simple tips:

Avoid high speeds, especially on the motorway. Try to limit your speed as much as possible; the average car consumes 38% more fuel at 70pmh than it does at 50mph. Drive smoothly; acceleration & deceleration is what uses most fuel. You will improve your fuel consumption with smooth driving; heavy braking can be reduced by not tailgating ans slowing gradually.

Avoid heavy acceleration so as not to rev too much. Use the correct gear to maintain low revs, only change gear as soon as is needed. The engine will run most economically at revs between 1,500 & 2,500, be between this unless more power is required. Try to avoid coasting as most modern cars now automatically shut off the fuel to the engine if you're not accelerating, but in neutral the engine will still use a tiny amount of petrol to stop it from stalling.

Remember that a cold engine will use double the amount of fuel as a warm engine, and catalytic converters will take 6 miles to become effective. So either avoid short journeys completely or drive super-efficiently until the engine has warmed up. Needless to say that some 2-3 mile journeys can't be avoided, especially in winter, when your fuel consumption will be atrocious because the engine might not even get warm by the time you arrive! That's just one we all have to suck up...

Keep your windows closed when possible, as keeping them wide open will cause drag and therefore increase fuel consumption.

During summer months, although it is a luxury to have air-con, it will increase your petrol consumption by as much as 10%! We don't live in the desert, so turn it off , have the window open slightly, or have the fans on cold. If you can't live without it try to just have the air-con on in short bursts. Remember that all air-con systems will need re-gassing from time to time and factor this into your motoring costs. (Having said all that if you are travelling over 60mph, it is recommended you actually have the air-con on instead of putting the window down, due to the drag effect)

Try to avoid driving on rough road surfaces such as gravel or heavy dirt. It can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 30%: even if a route on smooth tarmac is slightly longer the MPG will be better. Rough surfaces may also damage your paintwork & underside of your car, causing unwanted further costs.

Whenever possible condense trips, share a lift or drive e.g. shopping, school, after school activities. Also decide when you are going to fill your car up and stick to it.

If you were to reduce your driving by 5-10 miles a week, up to 40 miles per month, just think of the savings!

Regular basic car maintenance will help to improve your fuel consumption!

Pump up your tyres regularly. Incorrectly inflated tyres increase resistance which in turn increases your fuel consumption. Pumping your tyres up is one of the easiest and quickest ways to instantly improve your fuel consumption. Also check for wear. Baldness is not only illegal but dangerous, as well as harming your fuel economy. If your tyres appear to be unevenly worn then it may mean that your wheel alignment needs to be looked at. Incorrect alignment affects the handling of your car as well as using more fuel.

Reduce the weight of your car. If you tend to keep lots of bits in your boot, you should remove them. Other external fixings on your car can also increase your cars aerodynamic drag because they change the air flow over your car. So take off the roof rack too.

A more drastic way of cutting your costs would be to look at buying a newer & more fuel-efficient diesel or electric car. If you do a lot of driving the extra outlay could pay for itself in a relatively short period of time. This is obviously only an option to consider after you have done your homework and your sums!

There are also other avenues to research. A car club provides its members with quick & easy access to a car for short-term hire. Most of the time, members just need to book for as little as half an hour at a time, pick up the car - usually located at designated parking bays in the local area - drive, and return the car at the end of the journey. It is also possible to pay as you go. Car clubs also take care of all of the extra hassles that come along with owning a vehicle.

If you drive less than 6,000 miles per year then a car club could save you up to £3,500 a year. Car clubs also give you greater flexibility, charging only for the time you use the car, not when it is resting. It's also greener. It will help with controlling your environmental footprint buy cutting your carbon emissions & your contribution to congestion. You may find that you use the car club car even less than first thought. This is a good option for those who only need to drive occassionally, and see car ownership as a necessity rather than a pleasure.

Whichever way you chose to save money on motoring costs, it is not a good idea to take risks. That's why it is important to ensure that you are covered financially in the event of mechanical failure. Your car is no good to you if it is sitting on the drive until you can afford essential repairs! That's why - even if it seems like just another expense - it is always a good idea to extend your car warranty so that you are insured in the event of a mechanical crisis!

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The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily held by the Click4Group unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.