Cost factor car
Many people in Germany consider their own car to be an indispensable good, even though car maintenance often digs a deep hole in their wallets. For a large part of the population, the car is the second largest cost factor after the home.
In addition to the acquisition costs or the leasing rate, there are also vehicle insurance, fuel and workshop visits. The costs of keeping a car have been increasing steadily for 20 years, so today you pay an average of 40 percent more than in 2000, as Vau-Max reports.
For those who cannot or do not want to switch to cheaper alternatives, there are various factors to consider that can reduce maintenance costs.
reduce fuel consumption
A relatively variable cost factor is refuelling, since fuel consumption can be regulated by driving style. If you always drive at low speeds and avoid short distances, you can save quite a bit on petrol and diesel.
In addition, it is possible to refuel comparatively cheaply at special key times and days. In the evening between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. and during the week, refueling is often very cheap. However, smartphone apps can also help in the search for the cheapest price.
Heavy loads also increase fuel consumption, so water boxes, gas bottles and the like should not be driven around for days.
Carry out maintenance measures independently
Calculated over the year, maintenance measures and minor repairs add up to considerable cost factors, and those who carry them out independently save money accordingly.
For example, changing tires and replacing lights on many vehicles can be done by hand.
In addition, the purchase of spare parts from third-party suppliers on the Internet saves further costs.
change insurance
The fixed costs include the leasing rate and car insurance. While the leasing rate cannot be easily reduced, the situation is different when it comes to insurance. Many drivers trust their own insurance company and therefore continually extend the contract, which is often associated with higher costs than changing insurance.
If you do extensive research here, you can save up to a three-digit sum every year by comparing prices. The re-registration usually works via the Internet and experience has shown that it can be carried out between October and November.
Henry Ely / Editor finanzen.net
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