Your car is probably one of your biggest expenditures, so you really should treat it like an investment, especially if you have spent quite a bit on it. Cars can quickly depreciate in value but there are a few things that you can do to try and keep the value as high as possible and to save money:
Keep it clean – You car will obviously look nicer if you regularly clean it inside and out but it can also prevent your paintwork from getting damaged. Your paintwork can get ruined by marks especially bird droppings and sap from trees. The longer they stay on your car, the more damage they are doing so try to clean your car at east once a month. If you live close to the sea, sea salt can also cause problems to your paintwork. Cleaning the interior will also help keep that ‘new car’ feel. Waxing it also helps to add a layer of protection and makes it look all shiny and new.
Change oil – Regularly checking and changing your oil will help to keep your engine in tip-top condition. Running low on oil can cause serious damage to your car and it can overheat, causing major damage to your engine and other parts.
Check tyre pressure – As well as keeping you safe with properly inflated tyres, having the right air pressure can improve fuel efficiency, meaning you will need to fill up less often, saving you money. It also decreases the chances of suffering from a blow out so it is a good idea all round to keep on top of your tyre pressure with frequent checks.
Alloy wheel protectors – Even if you are an excellent driver, scrapes happen far too often. If you have expensive alloy wheels then give them some kerb protection and have alloy wheel protectors fitted, such as those that can be found from Zalloys. Hitting and glancing off a kerb happens frequently so to prevent scruffs and dents on your precious metal, plan ahead!
Don’t leave belongings on display – Replacing smashed windows is never fun so don’t give the thieves anything to break in for. Even if you know a plastic bag only has rubbish in, a thief might see it as a good target. Don’t leave coats, laptop bags or anything at all in your car even if you are only parking up for five minutes.
Be a good driver – Being a good driver keeps you and others on the road safer but it can also help to protect your car. Driving smoothly and not braking heavily at the last minute will help your car out. Wear and tear will always happen but the more carefully you drive, the less often you will need to replace brakes and other parts.
If you start to hear any sounds coming from near your brakes then get them checked out straightaway. If your pads wear out and there is metal on metal, it will be more than just the pads that will need replacing.
Park intelligently – Have you ever left your car in the last available space in a tight car park and then come back to find someone has scratched it? It isn’t a nice feeling and it happens all of the time, with many drivers just driving off after causing damage.
When you are parking, think about how much room you are leaving people to get through and try to avoid parking when your car is on a corner to reduce the chances of being scratched. Always leave enough room for people to comfortably open their doors as well.
Waxing your car is an essential step to keeping your car clean, gives that showroom-finish and doing it regularly can provide big benefits to your vehicle. Click here for more guides and articles about car wax.
