It costs the average car owner about $4,225 per year to own an auto, including maintenance, repairs, insurance and ever-spiking gas prices. Short of riding a bike around town, what else can be done to tame the expense? Lots. Here are six smart strategies that will put you on the road to major savings.
Find gas for less
These days, it's easy to drain your debit card while you fill your tank. Prices had climbed steeply to a national average of $3.95 per gallon at press time, so finding a bargain is vital. One terrific tool is the website gasbuddy.com — or download the free phone app, which is handy on the road.
Another option: AAA's TripTik Mobile free phone app (available to all, not just AAA members), which pinpoints stations and prices so you can comparison shop.
Consider the pumps at Costco, too, an unlikely but often pricewise source (hence the long lines).
Stop getting ripped off on repairs
Service fees can range from a manageable $37 (for a Jiffy Lube oil change, done in about 20 minutes) to a painful $155 or more for hourly labor charges, depending on the provider.
Dealers, especially high-end ones, charge the most. If your dealer suggests a pricey repair, log on to automd.com (a car-repair pricing resource) for an estimate based on car model, part, labor and ZIP code. One reader found a difference of $200.
"That kind of price discrepancy isn't unusual," says Shane Evangelist, president of automd.com. Dealers usually charge more, he says, partly because they have pricier, high-tech diagnostic equipment and factory-trained technicians.
Your best defense against budget-busting charges is to do your research before you take your car in for repairs. Call around for estimates; plug in your ZIP code at automd.com for a fast, free list of local shops to check with.
Deflate your insurance bill
Zero in on your state's auto-insurance discounts. They range from an anti-lock brake discount (5 percent off your liability premium in New York state) to a good-student discount (available nationally for young drivers with a current grade average of B or higher).
Search for auto-insurance discounts at statefarm.com for a listing by state. Then go to third-party search engines to compare quotes and target the best deal; two good bets are autoinsurance.com and carinsurancerates.com.
More wallet-friendly tips: Merge car and home insurance at the same company — called "bundling"; consider increasing your deductible; and guard your good driving record.
Beware of rock-bottom-price promises
Go ahead, be skeptical when you see mailings and TV ads for 0 percent financing when you buy a car or convert a lease. These lowball pitches are often bait-and-switch tactics — unless you have a golden credit record.
To find out how likely you are to qualify, go to annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228 to request a free copy of your credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. That way, you can see the same data the dealer will use and gauge how big a bargaining chip you have.
Also, shop around for the best interest rate before leasing or buying. Compare rates at the dealer, bank and credit union; the last will often have the lowest.
Get a AAA card: You can spend $250 or more for a tow, $65 for a jump-start or for a locksmith to open the car door -- and when you're desperate for help, odds are you won't shop around for the lowest price. Avoid getting gouged by purchasing a basic AAA membership (aaa.com). The $38 to $80 annual fee entitles you to at least four roadside service calls, including tows, tire changes, battery boosts and lockouts. (Do the math: That's a max of $20 per rescue.) And the peace of mind it brings you is almost priceless.
