There are very few people who own a car who don’t understand that it’s going to be a huge financial concern for as long as they have it. This can cause some people to take something of a defeatist stature on those costs. They might think that it can’t be helped and that they just have to take all the charges. However, savvy car owners know that’s not entirely true. You can’t and shouldn’t avoid the costs of owning a car. You can, however, ensure that every choice you make contributes towards a better deal. These are the mistakes that keep you from doing just that.Not ensuring that you get the best deal from a startAs one of the biggest financial choices you will make, getting a good deal on the car you want is important. Which means you should take some time before you commit to any decisions. Instead of relying on financing options from the dealer, get yourself pre-approved for a loan and keep the approved amount to yourself. Then shop around between different financiers as suggested by forbes.com, with credit unions often able to offer the best deals. Negotiating with the dealer themselves can play a big role in the kind of savings you can win yourself, too. Establish yourself a price you’re willing to pay and start by offering beneath it. When the inevitable much higher counter offer comes, start working your way up to your pre-established budget incrementally. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to walk away from negotiations.Paying for every bit of maintenanceKeeping your car well maintained and getting it fixed early when you spot a problem is important. No-one is telling you to just let the car lie. However, we will tell you that you shouldn’t necessary go to your mechanic at the drop of a hat. Instead, start learning a bit of DIY maintenance. Even simple tasks like rotating tires, changing the oil, the air filter, and the brake pads can reduce the number of times you have to pay for that trip to the garage.Not having some emergency funds readyNaturally, there are going to be times you just can’t help but take the car to the mechanic. Paying for it yourself right on the is the best option financially, but too many find those costs to be unexpected. Don’t get caught by unexpected repairs. Do your research and find out how much you can expect to pay annually for maintenance, then budget to build those car repair savings. It’s a good idea to keep some sort of credit open in case you need the extra boost, too. If you don’t have the best credit, then you might want to consider using payday loans from places like personalmoneystore.com. Just make sure you borrow responsibly by ensuring you’re able to pay it off without accruing too many fees.Burning way too much fuelOne of the operating costs that too many do nothing to tackle is the cost of fuel. You might assume there’s little you can do to reduce them but you would be wrong. Consumerenergycenter.com stresses how you drive can have a big impact on how much fuel your car is burning. For instance, if you’re accelerating too quickly or braking too sharply, your engine is going to burn more under the stress. If you’re leaving your car to idle for anything more than fifteen seconds, you’re burning more fuel than you would if you had just taken the time to reignite the engine. Proper maintenance of the vehicle is also going to play a big role in how efficient it stays.Not doing your research on insurance dealsJust as buying a car can be made a much better deal with some research, the same goes for any insurance agreements you’re paying. One thing you should look at is how much you’re paying on monthly premiums. You can decrease those costs, but be aware that they will increase your deductibles for when you do have to make a claim. A lot of places will offer better deals if you’re willing to get more than one kind of insurance from them, too. You could save on both auto and home insurance if you can get them from the same provider, for instance. Don’t just jump for the first insurance provider that catches your eye. Compare them and the individual deals they offer.Know when to claimSmart use of insurance doesn’t end by choosing a provider and a deal. It also takes into account just when exactly you should be making a claim on your insurance. For instance, you shouldn’t make a claim if you are the victim of someone else’s reckless driving. If their insurance isn’t going to pay for your damages, then you should be willing to pursue legal action. Otherwise, there are times you shouldn’t jump to pay even if you are responsible for damage to your vehicle. You should look at the costs of making a claim, from the deductible to the increase premiums, compared to the costs of simply paying out of pocket for any repairs. Also, if it’s an older car, you need to decide whether it’s worth paying for at all.Mind the end gameIf you don’t end up writing off the car, then you should be focused on its ongoing value to you as an asset. The final step of getting the best deal for a car is getting as much money as you can for selling it. For one, this means knowing the sweet point of when to sell it. Holding onto a car for too long will depreciate it to the point it has very little value to you at all. Before you sell it, see if the costs some maintenance and aesthetic work is going to get covered by the amount of profit you could potentially gain. Sites like lifehacker.com are full of tips on how to get the best deal when selling the car.From the moment you buy a car to the moment you say goodbye to it, you should be considering the most cost-effective way to go about it. If you neglect to, you’ll find yourself swamped by those costs.
