Ways to save on motoring
- Which? explains 10 ways you could cut your motoring costs
- Advice on everything from finding cheaper car insurance and hunting down low-cost petrol to getting your MOT done for less
- Discover how much you could save, and where to go to find the cheapest prices on driving essentials
Here are 10 simple tips that could help you drive down your car costs by hundreds of pounds.
1. Find the cheapest petrol in your area
Cut your motoring costs by paying less at the pumps
The internet is a great tool for finding the cheapest fuel in your area, with no website more exhaustive than Petrolprices.com.
Just tap in your postcode to bring up prices for around 8,000 stations across the UK and you could make substantial savings on the running costs of your motor.
2. Cut the cost of your MOT
Though there’s a maximum £54 test fee set by the government for car MoTs, some garages try to attract customers by offering reduced prices.
To avoid the cowboys, we always suggest choosing a garage through a personal recommendation – use Which? Local to find reputable garages recommended by Which? members.
3. Save money on your sat nav
Shop around for the best sat nav deal
When we tested sat navs, our highest scoring model – Garmin Nüvi 860T – was also one of the most expensive at around £350.
However, you don’t have to pay over the odds to get a great system. Another Best Buy, the Garmin Nüvi 205WT, can currently be picked up for under £150 from John Lewis.
See the Which? sat nav reviews for more.
4. Pay less for essential checks
Whether you’re buying a vehicle privately or from a dealer, checking the car’s history is essential. Which? Car recently compared vehicle check services and found that Experian AutoCheck and HPI are worth the £19.99 you pay for cover.
But if you buy a car worth up to £10,000 on eBay, their own RAC/HPI check at £6.99 is good value.
5. Buy your car insurance online
Shop around online for the best deals on car insurance
If you're looking to save money on car cover, it makes sense to buy online. Our last survey showed that it’s generally cheaper than buying over the phone.
Also, be sure to review your insurance each year and switch to a Which? Recommended Provider for the best cover and service – see the Which? car insurance reviews for more information.
6. Get better value breakdown cover
Join a breakdown service to help you cut costs if your car packs up. The AA performed best overall in the latest Which? survey – 42% of its patrols arrived within 30 minutes, compared with 39% with Britannia, rated as the second best service by Which? members.
7. Make money from your parking space
Websites such as Parkatmyhouse.com and Parkonmydrive.net enable property-owners to rent out their empty driveways and garages to drivers needing somewhere to park. You normally pay a one-off registration fee to have your space advertised and then watch the cash roll in.
8. Join a lift sharing scheme
If you join a car-sharing scheme you could halve your fuels costs. Check websites such as Liftshare.com and Carshare.com for more information.
9. Go green
Green cars like the Toyota Prius could save you money
The new car tax rates mean that cars with the lowest CO2 emissions will be exempt from charges, while gas guzzlers like the Porsche Cayenne will incur an annual fee of £405. Go see our greener cars guide for lots more on going green.
10. Find cut-price car parts
If you’re in need of discount car parts, try AutoTrader’s used car parts finder. You can search a database of over 500,000 quality used car parts from nationally recognized salvage experts.