Money Savings Tips: Save on Car Expenses

Here are some tips from Suze Orman on how to save money on car expenses:

• Next time you pull up to the pump, think twice about paying for premium gas. The reality is that most cars operate just fine with the less-expensive grade. Check your owner's manual to see if premium is required or merely recommended. Then, keep an eye out for gas bargains in your area. Websites like www.gasbuddy.com specialize in providing neighborhood gas prices.
• Keep up with simple auto maintenance that keeps your gas mileage as high as possible. When you fill ‘er up, take another two minutes to check the air pressure in your tires. Underinflated tires can reduce fuel efficiency by 10 percent or more.
• If you want to save some serious bucks, don’t lease your car – buy it, even if you have to take out a loan. You’ll be making car payments for three or four years, but then when the loan is paid off you can still drive the car for at least another two or three years (or more if you get a dependable car and keep it in good shape). That’s two or three years you’re car-payment free!
• Take a look at your auto insurance policy, too. If your current car insurance deductible is just $250 or $500 a year, increase it to $1,000 or even higher. That can reduce your premium by 10 percent or more. The truth is a lower deductible can cost you a lot more in the long run. That’s because if you make a lot of small claims—which is the reason for having a low deductible—pretty soon your insurance company is going to either hike your premium when you renew or decide you are too much of a nuisance and refuse to renew your policy at all.
• Beyond that, you can shave off even more if you manage to get your FICO credit score into the 720+ range. Surprised to see your FICO numbers affecting your car insurance? Don’t be. Your FICO score can affect almost everything you buy that you have to charge.
• If you own a home, consider a combined premium option, where you get insurance on both the home and your cars from the same insurance company. You can typically reduce your premium costs by another 10 percent or so by simply having both policies with the same insurer.
• Another great thing to do, if you can swing it, is to pay your premiums once a year, rather than quarterly. That way you avoid the typical $5 to $10 extra you get stuck paying each time you send in a payment every few months.

Pretty basic stuff overall, but a good reminder. I always forget to check my tire pressure. I'm sure I'm losing a bit (or more) there.