How to save money on the cost of running the family car

The cost of running a family car is becoming more and more expensive and a larger chunk of the household budget.  Where can you save money when costs are increasing all the time?

Apart from the ever increasing cost of petrol and diesel, there have been increases across every aspect associated with driving a vehicle.  Budget 2013 brought increases in Motor Tax and driving licences also. Female drivers, in particular those under 30 years of age, will be affected by higher insurance premiums with the introduction of the EU ruling last month whereby Insurers can no longer calculate premiums based on gender.

So where can you save money on the cost of running the family car?  Firstly, shop around for your car insurance to ensure you get the cheapest quote.  Avoid paying the insurance premium monthly as paying it annually is often the cheapest option.

You can save money by shopping around for your petrol or diesel.  Use the website www.pumps.ie to check out the prices in your locality or to find the cheapest service stations you can refuel at on your journey.

Get the most of your petrol/diesel by making sure your tyres are properly inflated.  Under-inflated tyres can cause fuel consumption to increase by as much as 4%.  Keep your car well serviced and check the oil level regularly.  Remove unnecessary weight from your car as the heavier the load the more fuel the car consumes.  Only use air conditioning when necessary.  Drive smoothly at reasonable speeds and avoid braking hard.

Consider car sharing for regular journeys such as bringing the children to school or after school activities.  Agree a rota with a friend or neighbour to share the drop or collection of the kids. Check to see if a colleague takes a similar route to work and take turns in driving to and from work.