There are many benefits to be had with owning your first car. So much so, that once you have a car, it’ll become a necessity ingrained in your daily life, making you wonder how you ever did without it. Apart from never having to step foot on a bus again and being able to politely decline your friends’ offer for a lift (who makes you seriously question your own safety on your travels). With your own car, you make the rules and you’re in control. Well, to an extent anyway. To cover what you need to do to avoid money pits and the risk of jeopardising your own safety in your first car, here are a few basic tips.
Car Checks You Can Do
If you’re not a trained mechanic, you may feel uncomfortable tackling any issues you find with your car alone, but you shouldn’t. If you become familiar and confident with your vehicle, you can make sure you look after it in the best way possible. In turn, this will save you a lot of money. To get you started, you should check your engine oil, brake fluid and window washer are topped up regularly. Plus, remember to top up your tyres, especially after long journeys.
Car Repairs
There will be crucial moments where a mechanic is necessary to fix your car. However, before you run to a car garage, reason through whether your car’s problems are something you can fix alone. For example, perhaps you can get a second-hand car part for your vehicle cheaper from Vauxhall breakers. Car breakers yards are an untapped resource that many car owners forget about. The reason why you should consider car breakers is, alongside incredibly cheap car parts, car breakers yards often have people on hand that can sometimes help you fit the parts in your car too – bonus!
Diarise Booking an MOT
Even those who have been driving years often forget when their next MOT is coming up, resulting in them panicking and trying to book an appointment at a garage ASAP that isn’t miles or weeks away. If your MOT runs out, you can’t drive your car. So make a note in your diary or phone calendar to book your test a month before it’s due. This shall also give you some time to sort out putting cash aside in advance for unexpected repairs.
Shop Around for Car Insurance
Worryingly, there is a significant difference between quotes that insurance providers give for the exact same car. And it’s not the difference of a few pounds either; we’re talking hundreds of pounds. To avoid being stung by a large car insurance quote, get yourself on comparison sites to help you find which insurance company gives you the best quote. But remember, some insurance providers are independent of any comparison sites, and so you’ll need to apply to some car insurance companies separately.
While we’re on the subject of car insurance, never assume that third party cover is cheaper than fully comprehensive coverage. In some cases, it’s not. So tweak the cover details, start date, and so on, and you’ll see the difference in how much you can save.
With some of the basics covered for new car owners above, you can learn to look after your car, save money on repairs and avoid high insurance costs in your first year of driving.