THE COST of keeping your car on the road can cause a breakdown in your bank balance.
Just one in six drivers is confident to carry out simple car maintenance, and only half could refill the oil or check a tyre tread, according to a Green Flag survey.
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If more people knew how to do these simple checks, along with other motoring know-how, they’d be able to slow down the spending.
Here are my tips for keeping your car maintenance costs ticking over.
STAY THE COURSE: While you can find car maintenance courses online — Wowcher is offering one for just £9 — there’s nothing like getting your hands dirty at a face-to-face class. Check out your local further education college’s list of courses, including some open to women only.
PRESSURE’S OFF: One in six Green Flag callouts is for tyre or wheel-related issues. Simply being able to check your tyre pressure could help you steer clear of a costly garage visit and make tyres last longer. Check your car’s handbook for the correct pressure for your tyre, then use the air pump at a petrol station to get it to the right pressure.
TREAD CAREFULLY: Tyres have their own tread-wear indicators — or you can use a 20p coin: If the outer band on the coin is visible when placing the coin in the groove between the treads, it means they have worn too low and need replacing.
Checking regularly will help you plan ahead for upcoming costs and allow you to shop around for new tyres.
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WATCH THE EXPERTS: For basic car maintenance tips, tune into the experts online. The main breakdown companies all have tips on their websites, and you can check out their online videos to get step-by-step instructions.
COMPARE COVER: We all know the big breakdown companies but it was AXA and Start Rescue that topped Which?’s latest table for best breakdown cover, with the AA coming third.
AT YOUR SERVICE: Specialist comparison sites can help you see how much car upkeep may cost. A site such as bookmygarage.com lets you compare the price of MoTs and servicing at nearby garages before you make a booking online.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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