How-to Guides » OLD GUIDE Beat the petrol price hikes

Avoid expensive repair bills

7 tips on this task  |  Tweet

1) Maintain your car well

Check your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure once a week and before every long journey. Check your oil, coolant, windscreen washer liquid and your battery charge at the same time, and make ssure your cooling fan switches on when the engine is hot. Check the brake fluid once a month. Use the handbrake regularly as this will make your brakes last longer. Change your air filer regularly and rotate your tyres diagonally twice a year or once every 6,000 miles. Every 50,000 miles, replace the timing belt and check the transmission fluid of an automatic car every 12,000 miles. Get it serviced regularly.

2) Cut your MOT and servicing costs

Shop around - the labour rate per hour is likely to be lower in an independent garage. Alternatively, use your Clubcard points – every £10 is worth £40 at a Nationwide Autocentre garage.

3) Learn basic mechanics

Some jobs require an expert, but some – such as changing a windscreen wiper or a fuse – do not. Haynes manuals like these talk you through the basics, or you could post a question on this internet group devoted entirely to UK maintenance discussions. Shop around and search for used car parts online to make sure you’re getting the best price.

Compare car insurance quotes via lovemoney.com