6 Ways to Save Money on a Car
By MGB • Nov 3rd, 2011 • Category: Budget
There are so many things to keep in mind when buying a car. You want to get the best value for your money and avoid any complications down the road. Here are six tips to get the best buy for your money.
1. Decide on the Best Type of Vehicle
The first step is to decide on what type of vehicle is best for your needs. Some people need a very small vehicle to commute back and forth to work, while other people need a large vehicle to haul a whole team to tournaments. Deciding on the right type of vehicle will provide much satisfaction in the time you will own the vehicle.
2. Research on the Internet
Once the buyer has determined the right kind of vehicle for their needs, then it is time to research what is the right model within that type. It is important to check the safety records for particular vehicle types released by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration each year. For the best vehicle consider only those in the top two or three positions.
3. Consider the Gas Mileage
Armed with your list of safest vehicles then consider the gas mileage for the vehicles. Of course, the vehicle with the best gas mileage will cost less to operate. If vehicle A gets 30 miles on a gallon of gas, and you plan to drive the vehicle 100,000 miles and gas costs $3.00 a gallon, that vehicle will require you to buy 3,334 gallons of gas at a cost of $10,002. If vehicle B gets 25 miles on a gallon of gas and you drive that same 100,000 miles and gas still costs $3.00 a gallon that vehicle will require you to buy 4,000 gallons of gas costing you $12,000. That is a savings of $1,998 dollars. That is a big start towards the purchase of your next vehicle.
4. Consider the Maintenance Costs
Some major auto sellers allow users to enter a vehicle make and model on their website to look into this. With this info, you can find the cost of maintaining the vehicle. Remember that a savings of even $2,000 dollars will go a long way toward buying your next vehicle. Saving money is always important. Put the money in the bank so that you can buy a better vehicle for cash when it is time to make your next purchase.
5. Consider the Insurance Cost
If you are going to finance the vehicle, then you will have to have full coverage insurance. If you are paying cash for the vehicle, then you can carry only liability insurance. This can be a tremendous savings of over $2,000 a year. It often makes more sense to buy the best vehicle you can for cash and then save the money for a better vehicle.
6. Get the Vehicle Report
Before buying the actual vehicle, there is one last report to consider. Make sure to get the actual vehicle report. This report will tell you where this vehicle is from and if it has been in any major accidents. This is important so that you do not get a radioactive car from Japan.
Jackie Osnick spends her free time looking for cooking blogs, great coupons & Buy.com Weekly Deals.
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