How you can save money on everyday motoring costs

RUNNING and maintaining a car comes with unavoidable expenses, but there are plenty of ways to trim these costs. Consumer champions Which? know because every month they survey thousands of Which? members to see how they save money on everyday bills, services and purchases. In March 2015, they asked 552 members how they cut costs. Here’s a selection of their best ideas.

Breakdown cover that doesn’t break the bank Some sort of breakdown cover is essential, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy one direct from a breakdown service. Many members said they saved money by getting cover with their packaged bank account.

Don’t dismiss independent garages Getting your car serviced by an independent garage, rather than an official dealer was one of the most commonly mentioned ways of saving money. The only downside could be not getting an official dealer’s stamp in the servicerecord book, which could affect the resale price of the car.

Take the pain out of parking One Which? member told them he saves a great deal of money by purchasing an annual off-peak parking ticket, which can be used before 10am and after 3pm in most of his hometown’s car parks.

More information on the Which? website, found at: http://www.which.co.uk