35 Ways To Slash Your Car Costs

For most Americans, car ownership requires a lot more than plunking down payment and flooring it. In fact, owning and operating a new vehicle in 2022 cost drivers an average of $10,728 annually, according to AAA. And if you drive 15,000 miles or more a year in a pickup truck, for example, those average figures can skyrocket.

But it’s not all bad news. With good driving habits, a little insurance know-how and a touch of DIY maintenance, you can put the top down and cruise your way to reduced annual costs. Find out how to own a car without coughing up a fortune.

Keep calm and drive on. It sounds easy till you’re running late for your $200 hot yoga workshop.

Heavy traffic can take a big toll on your health and wallet as it is. But aggressive driving tactics like speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking can reduce your fuel efficiency by 15% to 30% on the freeway and up to 40% in stop-and-go traffic, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

No, you didn’t read that wrong — you really don’t need to change your oil every 3,000 miles. That rule of thumb no longer applies to most cars on the road, according to CalRecycle. In fact, certain models can go up to 15,000 miles without needing an oil change. Check manufacturer recommendations and adjust your oil change schedule.

Don’t pass up off-brand gas stations. Many indie gas stations buy gas from name-brand oil companies, and they’re often the first to slash prices when crude oil rates drop, NPR reported. Just because the logo doesn’t look familiar doesn’t mean the savings aren’t legit.

If your monthly payment is weighing down your budget, buckle down and make some calls. By refinancing with a lower rate, you could save hundreds or thousands over the life of your loan.

If you’re not often on the road, pay-as-you-drive insurance could be a boon to your annual budget. It’s not for everyone, but provider Metromile estimated that low-mileage drivers save an average of $741 yearly on pay-per-mile insurance.

No, we’re not talking about making Facebook comments — we’re talking about defensive driving courses. Taking a class to learn these accident-prevention techniques can knock up to 10% off applicable insurance coverage in some states. And with an online defensive driving course, you don’t even have to leave the house (or put on pants).

You might be overpaying for gas. Check your owner’s manual to see if your car runs just fine on regular-grade fuel. If it does, skip the premium octane and save about 20 to 40 cents per gallon.

Spring for the right motor oil. You can usually choose regular gas, but always abide by your car manufacturer’s oil grade recommendations. The wrong viscosity grade can lead to more friction, which leads to lower gas mileage and might even reduce the engine’s life.

It might sound counterproductive, but hear us out. Forbes Advisor suggests that increasing your car insurance deductible could potentially reduce your yearly insurance expenses by a few hundred dollars.

If you use your car for business, don’t forget to file a tax deduction for car costs. You might be able to write off everything from depreciation to oil changes to toll fees.

Whether you’re on iOS or Android, free apps like GasBuddy, Gas Guru and Waze can help you find the best gas prices around. Just don’t comparison shop while you drive.

Skip the snake oil. Fuel line magnets and magical liquid “enhancers” typically don’t work as advertised, the Federal Trade Commission reported. Those that do provide insignificant benefits. Those that don’t can even harm your engine.

Adding a teen to your car insurance policy can hike up your rates by an average of 161%, according to Insure.com. So when your kid is ready to take the wheel, don’t hesitate to ask your insurer about available discounts. Good report cards, low annual mileage and driver safety education courses can lower rates.

Teens aren’t the only ones qualifying for driver discounts. Ask your insurer about potential discounts, such as perks for anti-theft devices, customer loyalty and clean driving records.

Auto apps don’t just help you find the cheapest gas near you, they also help you log your mileage, keep track of your fill-ups, log your repairs and even generate charts of your monthly car costs. For some free budget insights, check out Fuelio or Gas Tracker by Fuelly.

Overdrive is the highest gear on your transmission, and it’s there for a reason. Opt for overdrive to improve fuel economy when you’re on the highway. If freeway traffic is flowing, switching on your cruise control can also save on gas.

Ask yourself: Would you rather pay $5 to $10 for car wax or well upwards of $1,000 to repaint your car? Keep the elements from damaging your paint by waxing every two to three months.

Reap rewards for good behavior. Ask your insurer if they offer devices that monitor your driving habits. If you’re a consistently safe driver, you can save about 12% to 15% per year on your premiums. But if you’re not so consistently safe, you might not see much of a discount.

If it’s a cool day out, keep your air conditioner off. The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Energy Department report that running your AC under very hot conditions can reduce a conventional vehicle’s fuel economy by more than 25%, especially on short trips.

If you have the air conditioner off, roll down your windows. If you’re worried about wind drag reducing your fuel economy, Inside Energy recommended rolling down the windows when driving slower and using the air conditioner when driving at higher speeds to maximize your mileage.

Rotate those tires yourself. In addition to potential savings of hundreds of dollars per year on car maintenance costs, you’ll get the perks of better gas mileage and the confidence-boosting satisfaction that comes with a DIY attitude.

Start the year off with fresh car insurance quotes. Comparison shopping usually only takes a few minutes and can easily reap you hundreds of dollars in annual savings.

Believe it or not, 92% of insurers consider credit when calculating your premium — and you should probably believe it since that info comes straight from Nationwide.

Check your credit report and make sure any errors are swiped from the record before searching for insurance. If your credit needs help, use this game plan to boost your score.

If you have a habit of chilling in your car, you might want to find another place to play Words With Friends. Idling uses up to a half-gallon of gas per hour, and Americans waste approximately 135 billion gallons of fuel each year this way, according to a study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

By keeping your tires inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, you reap the combined benefits of improved gas mileage and less tire wear. It pays to stay pumped — the EPA and DOE report that the proper air pressure can improve your gas mileage by up to 3%.

A study by insuranceQuotes found that homeowners netted an average discount of 16% when bundling home and auto insurance. Typical yearly savings hover around the $500 to $600 mark, which can mean only one thing: It’s time to bundle up.

Cruise into savings by capping your cruise control at 50 mph. As you go over that magic number, your fuel efficiency starts to tank rapidly. The DOE estimates that slowing down by 5 to 10 miles per hour comes out to about $3.46 per gallon of gas.

Clean your wiper blades with a wet paper towel regularly. Wiper blades have a short shelf life, but keeping them clean keeps them wiping longer — which keeps money in your pocket.

If you don’t drive much, let your insurance company know about it. If you drive less than the 12,000 mile-per-year average, you’re not just trimming down your carbon footprint — your insurer might be willing to slash 5% to 10% from your premiums, too, according to Consumer Reports.

Don’t flush. That’s not advice you hear (or should follow) very often, but in this case, dodging this common auto shop upsell could save you about $188 to $210, according to RepairPal. Typically, you only need to flush every 100,000 miles or so.

When you need a new timing belt, or your automatic windows stop being so automatic, use sites like RepairPal or YourMechanic to find fair pricing and scope Yelp reviews all in one swoop. This can help prevent you from getting hoodwinked even if you don’t know a carburetor from a camshaft.

You might as well swipe for savings while you’re at the pump. Find the best rewards credit cards to get cash back every time you fill-up. Some of the best cards offer 2% to 5% cash back on fuel and other purchases.

Accidents happen. Unfortunately, even one at-fault accident can spike your insurance rates by 65%, according to CarInsurance.com. If you’re looking at a minor fender bender, do a little math before you file a claim. In the long run, you might just be able to repair both dinged-up cars for less if you pay out of pocket.

Lighten your load and steer clear of storing things on your roof rack — a habit that encourages efficiency-reducing wind drag. Emptying your trunk or hatch of unnecessary heavy loads can also boost your fuel economy.

It’s hard to let your car go after you’ve spent 10 years in the driver’s seat and named her “Lucy.” But once your baby is worth less than the cost to repair it after an accident, it’s time to say goodbye. Dropping collision coverage can save you about $200 to $400 annually, according to Insurance.com.

More From GOBankingRates

• I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: These Are the 6 Investments Everyone Should Make During an Economic Downturn
• The Average Retirement Age in 2023 in the US vs Canada
• 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
• Don't Make These Common Mistakes If You Want to Retire Wealthy