5 Easy Ways to Spend Less on Driving

There’s no getting around it: running a car costs money. Fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres, repairs and all the other little expenses can soon add up. But reducing the cost of driving doesn’t necessarily mean making huge changes.

Some relatively small habits can make a difference over time.

Here are five simple places to start.

1. Drive a little more smoothly

Hard acceleration followed by heavy braking isn’t just uncomfortable for everyone in the car. It can also mean using more fuel than necessary.

Looking further ahead, maintaining a steady speed where appropriate and accelerating and slowing down smoothly can help you drive more efficiently.

As an added bonus, gentler driving can also reduce unnecessary wear on components such as your brakes and tyres.

2. Look after your tyres

Tyres are easy to forget about until something goes wrong, but looking after them can help avoid unnecessary expense.

Check your tyre pressures regularly and use the manufacturer’s recommended figures for your vehicle.

While you’re there, inspect your tyres for obvious damage and keep an eye on tread depth.

Incorrect pressures can affect the way your car drives as well as fuel efficiency and tyre wear, so a quick check is worth making part of your routine.

3. Stop carrying things you don’t need

Still driving around with half of last summer’s holiday equipment in the boot?

Extra weight means your vehicle has more to move, which can affect fuel consumption. You don’t need to obsess over every kilogram, but clearing genuinely unnecessary heavy items from your car makes sense.

Roof boxes and roof racks can also increase aerodynamic drag, so consider removing them when you’re not using them.

Your boot may appreciate the clear out too.

4. Shop around

Convenience can be expensive.

Whether you’re looking at insurance, breakdown cover, servicing or other motoring costs, don’t automatically assume the first price you’re given is the best available.

Compare what’s included as well as the headline price. The cheapest option isn’t necessarily the best value if it doesn’t provide the cover or service you actually need.

And if you’re buying a car from a dealership, the same principle applies to additional products you’re offered.

Take your time, understand what you’re buying and see what alternatives are available rather than feeling you have to decide there and then.

5. Don’t ignore the small maintenance jobs

That strange noise you’ve been pretending not to hear? It probably isn’t going to fix itself.

Keeping up with routine servicing and addressing small issues early can sometimes prevent them developing into more expensive problems.

Regularly check things such as oil, coolant, screenwash, lights and tyres, and pay attention when your car starts behaving differently.

A few minutes spent checking your car regularly is considerably nicer than discovering a problem when you’re already late for work.

Small changes can add up

There isn’t one magic trick that suddenly makes driving cheap. But smoother driving, properly maintained tyres, carrying less unnecessary weight, shopping around and keeping on top of maintenance can all help you become a more cost-conscious motorist.

And when you’re buying additional protection for your vehicle, it’s worth shopping around there too. ALA offers a range of vehicle protection products, including GAP Insurance, Warranty and more, so you can explore your options and decide what’s appropriate for you.

Find out more about ALA Insurance and the protection available for your vehicle.