Posted: 17/08/2021
Owning a car is a great feeling, but I think we can all agree that it isn’t exactly cheap to run a vehicle day in and day out. Covid-19 has placed unprecedented financial stress on many Australians with regular lockdowns, business closures and higher rental and living costs. However, there are many small but impactful ways in which you can cut costs and save money as a vehicle owner, and we’re here to share our top money-savvy tips with you.
1. Save on Petrol
Feel like you’re constantly filling up the fuel tank, but emptying out your bank account? Fuel is just one of those annoying, but necessary costs for vehicle owners. Every dollar you save at the bowser will make a big difference in the long run, and there are certainly ways in which you can reduce your petrol costs.
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Do Your Research
If you are serious about saving money on petrol, you need to take the time to do your research before filling up. As tempting as it is, don’t just choose the most convenient option, as there can be a significant difference in fuel costs depending on where you fill up.
A fantastic and simple way to compare fuel prices in your local area is using price watch Apps (there are plenty out there to choose from). A few dollars saved each time you fill up will equal significant and noticeable savings over the year.
Take Advantage of Discounts & Rewards
Hold on to your shopper dockets folks. You know those coupons on the back of Woolies & Coles receipts that let’s be honest, we usually ignore? Well, they could be saving you money. A 2 or 4c per litre saving might not seem like much, but it all adds up in the long run. Our very own MyToyota app is another fantastic way to save money on your fuel. We have teamed up with Ampol to offer MyToyota users a 4c per litre saving at participating Ampol fuel stations across Australia. Toyota also run regular promotions where they double that to 8c per litre off at the bowser. That's sure to save you some money!
Choose Your Fill-up Day Wisely
Fuel cost can differ significantly depending on the day of the week. As everyone is out and about adventuring on the weekends and public holidays (especially now with less air travel), this is the costliest time to fill up your vehicle. Fuel prices have been shown to sneak up from Thursday through to Sunday, so be sure to plan ahead and fill up earlier in the week to avoid paying more than you need to.
2. Drive Sensibly
This one is a no-brainer, and we should always be driving in a sensible manner to protect road users, but the way in which you drive can also impact vehicle costs.
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Accidents Are Costly
You’re much more likely to be involved in a car accident if you are driving in an erratic and dangerous manner, and that alone should convince you to drive sensibly. Apart from putting yourself and other road users at risk, there is often a hefty financial cost associated with having an accident. This can include insurance costs, vehicle repairs, hire vehicle costs, and even damage to property. In other words, speeding and driving erratically is just not worth it. Not one bit.
Settle Down, Save Money
Did you know that being too heavy on the pedals and stopping/starting aggressively in traffic uses way more petrol than if you drive in a sensible manner? Similarly, speeding and weaving in and out of traffic simply to get 1 to 2 cars ahead can chew through the gas much more than you may realise.
3. Servicing For Saving
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Stick To Your Service Schedule
We all know how tempting it is come servicing time to think of the extra money sitting in our account if we were to simply skip the service or hit delay and deal with it at a later date. That might provide you with short-term financial gain, but trust us when we tell you that this will cause far more extra cost in the long run. Often the cars with the biggest repair bills are those that have not been regularly serviced and maintained.
Correctly Inflate Your Tyres
Ensuring that your tyre pressure is at an optimal level for your vehicle is critical to save you money on the road. Having underinflated tyres will cause you to use extra fuel, and you will be filling up much more than you need to be. If you are unsure what pressure your tyres should be at or how to check, that should be looked after at your servicing appointments.
Click the link below to book your car in for a service with our friendly and knowledgeable team. We are always happy to help!
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Lighten Your Load
So you went golfing on Saturday, and took the fold-up chairs to the park for a picnic on Sunday. Monday comes around, and you just couldn’t be bothered to take all the gear out of the car before leaving for work. The busy work week gets the better of you, and the golf clubs and chairs end up staying in the back of the car for a week. Keeping unnecessary excess weight in your vehicle equates to added fuel costs. It will also cause more wear and tear on your tyres and breaks, meaning you will need to replace them sooner (and as any vehicle owner knows, this is not easy on the pocket). So keep any unnecessary excess items at home if you won’t be needing them, and save yourself some money.
4. Be Creative With Your Travel
Another sure way to reduce your costs as a car owner is to be creative with how you travel, and how often. Say you need to go to the grocery store for a couple of things, and it's just around the corner, can you walk or even ride a bike? Carpooling is another fantastic option when travelling to school, work or uni for example, where you can greatly minimise cost by sharing a ride and taking it in turns who drives.
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Small changes here and there can have a significant impact over time. We hope these tips have got you thinking of ways that you can be thrifty everyday as a car owner to save some extra cash. If you enjoyed this article and think it could benefit someone you know, please feel free to share it with your friends and family!