Owning an car is an expense and a responsibility. Costs are more than just the actual cost of the car, down payment and monthly payments, they range from taxes and title, insurance, registration, sticker inspection costs, maintenance and upgrading costs and of course gas.
You already put a couple of grand down for a new car and are stuck with monthly payments. That is not likely to change anytime soon. Depending on where you live and register your car you will have to fees and taxes for the title, registration and the sticker inspection costs. Those too are unlikely to change. So what can you change? What can a commuter do to save money? You have a few areas in which the dollar amount is somewhat in your control gas, insurance and maintenance.
Gas costs are rising and so you want to save at the pump at every chance. If you are still in the process of purchasing a new car consider an energy efficient car such as an economy car of a hybrid. There are many of these being produced today, especially in China. They use less gas so you get more miles per gallon. Make sure there is plenty of air in your tires, if your tires lose pressure you burn more gas and thus lose more cash. Turn off unnecessary things the radio, the iPod adapter or cell phone charger. If it is a nice day consider rolling down the windows instead of blasting the air conditioner.
Car insurance is another major expense of car ownership and is required in many jurisdictions. Finding the right insurance is important you want to balance coverage with cost. Switching car insurance could save you hundreds. Shop around and compare quotes. A car owner should be searching online for rates and talking to agents to get quotes. A final decision should only be made after looking at a number of insurance companies in the area and comparing the policies.
Maintenance is another issue of car ownership costs sometimes out of control. When the light turns red it often forces us to bring our car in for a check-up. Sometimes it is even because of an accident. Just like with insurance one shop around for the best car garage that will cost you less out of pocket. However the key solution to saving on maintenance is to avoid them by taking care of your car and practicing safe driving. Responsible owners save.