When we look at buying a new car, there are so many things to look at. One part of the car research that we often forget is the cost of owning the car. That can get quite expensive and every car costs differently to own and run. Some costs worth looking at include Roadside Assistance, Insurance & Servicing. This is a guide that looks at those and we go through a few ways you can save money while owning your new car.
[1] Roadside Assistance
Driving kids around is all part of the busy family lifestyle.
The last thing you want is for your family car to breakdown and be left stranded on the side of the road. Roadside assistance is there is to help you when unexpected things happen. Things such as:
- You run out of fuel
- You leave on the lights and need a jump-start
- You lose your keys
That’s why we get roadside assistance. It’s one of the first things we pay for after getting the car. You can get roadside assistance from any of the auto clubs like RACV, NRMA or RACQ. Some of the car insurance companies like AAMI also offer roadside assistance products to their customers.
Many car brands now offer free roadside assistance when you buy a new car from them. This is renewed for the next 12 months every year when you take your car in for a service at the dealerships.
[2] Insurance costs
We all want know how busy it is on our roads these days and when you buy a big ticket item like a car, you want to make sure you’re covered in case of an accident.
The cost of insurance depends on so many factors but the main things insurance companies look for are:
- Your driving history
- The location where the car will be parked at night
- Who is the youngest driver of your car
- What you will be mainly using the car for
With insurance, it is so important to shop around.
[3] Servicing costs
It has become a lot cheaper to to be able to service a car at the dealership. Many car brands now give car buyers a fixed price servicing plan. This is known as capped price servicing. This means that you know exactly what you pay every time you take your car in for a service without any hidden surprises.
One thing worth remembering is that genuine parts are generally more expensive at the dealership when compared to similar parts from Repco. This means that you may end up paying more for a service at a dealership (which is convenient) than you might at a local mechanic.
[4] Saving money while owning the car
Owning a car can be quite expensive. There are countless things you need to pay for. Registration, insurance, fuel, servicing, cleaning and a whole lot more. It all costs quite a bit of money but what about ways that you can use to save?
There are a few ways to save money in a family car that all of us can do to ease the pressure on the family budget.
Fuel prices go up and down so you never know if you are paying a good price at the pump. Using apps like MotorMouth, you can be in control and compare prices of different fuel stations at your fingertips.
