Your car gives you freedom and independence to take on a lot of what life has to throw at you.
Whether it’s getting to work on time, going shopping or visiting family and friends, having a car allows us to travel around at our leisure.
Strange then that we don’t always look after our motors as we perhaps should do - taking our wheels for granted just a little bit too much.
A list from financebuzz.com highlights a few simple hacks that can improve your driving experience and needlessly avoid throwing money away.
1. Carry jump cables
Simply don’t leave home without a set of jump cables - just store them neatly in the boot and you’ll never notice them again - until you really need them.
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It’s worth going for a quality set, too, as there can be differences in performance.
2. Don’t let your car sit in the cold weather to warm up
A cold morning feels even worse when you climb into a car that hasn’t warmed up. However, as tempting as it might be to start your vehicle and let it get toasty, it’s not a good idea.
There’s no benefit to warming up your engine. Today’s car models are fully lubricated and ready to drive within 30 seconds. The car also will warm up faster if you drive it as opposed to letting it idle.
Finally, letting the car idle wastes gas and adds harmful emissions to the environment.
3. Keep a notebook of your car’s maintenance history
Keep track of your vehicle’s maintenance history in a small notebook in the glove compartment. You can also use a digital version if you prefer.
Follow the owner’s manual for your vehicle’s maintenance schedule, such as how often to change the oil.
Write down details of all work you have done, including the replacement of parts, replacing tires, and any repairs.
When you decide to sell the car, you’ll have a solid record of the great work you put into it, which could boost your car’s value on the market.
4. Read the owner’s manual
The owner’s manual offers some great tips for getting the most out of your car, so why not read it?
It includes your car’s recommended maintenance schedule and provides insight into many aspects of how the car works.
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If your vehicle has any fancy features, the owner’s manual should explain how they work.
5. Do as much work on the car as you can
If you’re not handy or don’t want to waste time, a local repair technician is the way to go when your car needs work.
However, consider powering through a few YouTube videos to learn how to replace the air filter, check the oil, and change the spark plugs. Chances are good that doing these things yourself will save you money.
You should be able to find the parts you need for these small fixes readily available online or at an auto parts store. And you'll pay a fraction of what the dealership is likely to charge you.
Those savings don’t even include the labour costs you'll avoid simply by doing the work yourself.
6. Use a tennis ball when parking in your garage
Determining how far to pull into your garage when parking can be difficult. But there is a simple trick to make this task easier.
Pull your car into the garage and park it just where you want it.
Then, take a tennis ball, attach a rope to it, and hang it from a rafter in your garage.
Make sure you attach the rope at the spot where the tennis ball just barely touches your windshield.
In the future, you'll know to stop your car when you pull into the garage and the ball makes contact with the windshield.
7. Use an app to find a parking spot
Whether you’re on your way to a show or just going to work, finding a parking spot at the last minute can be challenging, particularly in busy areas.
Fortunately, there are many phone apps that help you locate available parking spots within your target area.
You can compare prices, find safer spots and some apps even allow you to reserve a parking bay in advance.
8. De-ice a frozen lock with hand sanitizer
On a cold day, rain or snow might cause your lock to freeze up. But there is an easy fix if you don’t have a lock de-icer.
Putting a small amount of sanitizer on your key before sliding it into the lock should do the trick.
The alcohol in the sanitizer works to de-ice the lock.
9. Use cupcake liners to catch crumbs
It’s easy to pledge never to bring food into your newly cleaned car, but it’s hard to keep that promise when you need to eat on the run.
As a result, it can feel downright impossible to keep cup holders clean.
Here’s an easy fix: Place a cupcake liner in each of the cup holders in your car.
The liners catch all of the debris that builds up over time and are super easy to remove and toss.
10. Buy a dash cam so you have a record of your trips
A dash cam is an excellent investment for most drivers because it allows you to record what’s happening while you’re driving - and can also help to lower your premium
If another car darts out in front of you or backs out while you’re driving by, you’ll capture this on camera.
That can help boost your claim if you need to file one later.
Choose a Wi-Fi-enabled option for the easiest solution.