Keep Your Automotive Costs Down with These 3 Tips

According to AAA, the average annual cost of owning a car comes to $8,849. If you're on a budget, you may want to get this number way lower than it currently is. Luckily, there are some easy steps you can take to ensure that you're saving as much money on your auto expenses as possible.

Keep Your Car Protected

If you have a garage, you know all of the benefits of keeping your car inside. This can include minor things such as not having to brush snow off of it in the winter, or having to get out of your car in the pouring rain. This extends even further than just these luxuries, however. By keeping your car inside, you can cut down on how much you spend on auto costs.


Keeping your car inside can help protect it from possible damages that may happen to you. This can include dents and scratches from whatever bad storms may come your way. Hail and wind are two big players here. Hail costs the United States up to $22 billion a year from general damage, including to automobiles. On top of this, any harsh winds may break trees or tree branches which may end up damaging your car.


But weather isn't the only thing that a garage can save your car from. By keeping your car safely locked in your garage, you're preventing any thieves or vandals from having direct access to your car. This can save you from having to deal with annoying costs associated with fixing whatever they would try to do.

Save on Gas

Another great area to cut expenses is spending on gas. There are a few ways you can go about this. First, you can make sure that you're keeping your car well maintained, specifically your tires. Keeping your tires inflated properly will maximize your fuel efficiency. Be sure to rotate your tires frequently as well. It is recommended that you rotate your tires every three to six thousand miles, about as frequently as you get an oil change.


Secondly, you can work on cutting your use of gas altogether. This can include either taking a bike or carpooling to where you need to go. Biking can be a game changer for both your health and your wallet, especially if you live in a bigger city. It is fairly underrated, as in 2010, there were over 21.8 million adults who rode a bicycle for less than 109 days. By biking or carpooling, you can save on both gas and parking expenses.

Drive Safe

Driving safely to avoid both accidents and unnecessary traffic tickets can be one of the biggest savers of your time, health, and money. In terms of accidents, take South Carolina for an example. In the year 2015, there was a car accident every 4 minutes, with a person being injured in a car accident every 9 minutes. It's important to be a safe, defensive driver, always paying attention to your surroundings. Keep in mind the weather and general environment as well, especially if you're towing something, or driving near someone who is. Over 50,000 accidents every year are related to towing, according to the NHTSA. Being a defensive driver and not allowing any tickets or accidents to happen will also help you save on auto insurance, as some agencies increase your rate depending on your driving record.


Cars are an essential part of our day to day lives, but can also be quite pricey. By making sure to drive safe, keep your car protected from Mother Nature, and cut down your gas costs, you can help bring your price of owning a car way down, and also keep your future costs down.