Pennies for thought

Car insurance can often be one of the biggest lump sum expenditures you will encounter throughout the year. You can pay car insurance monthly and this will inevitably cost more in the long run so if you can afford the full year you make a small saving there.

The trouble with insurance policies though is that there are too many to choose from! The main thing to take in consideration when buying is that you only purchase from reputable companies. If you save a few hundred pounds on a policy and then they won’t pay out for whatever reason then it is a dead loss.

Buying online will generally save you money but if you do not understand the policy make sure to phone them and inquire before purchasing. Other companies that operate fully online can keep costs down and pass on the savings to you but again be sure they are reputable.

Comparison websites are not always the cheapest option either when a lot of the bigger companies with better deals opt out from using comparison websites.

There are a few little tips that will help you keep your premium down
- Don’t over value the cost of your car
- Don’t go for the lowest excess you can
- Don’t opt in for extras you can get cheaper else ware
- Buy the policy online if possible

Over valuing the cost of your car is just adding cost to your premium and will not gain a penny from this unless the car is written off

The best way to view picking an excess is as an amount you can stretch to affording in one working month. If you can afford £200 don’t choose any lower because this will raise your premium and having the realisation of having to pay expenses out of your own pocket will have you driving safely in no time.

Always review the optional extras when buying an insurance policy and make sure you are not paying for things you don’t need. Windscreen cover is always a worthwhile extra if repairs are free but breakdown cover can quite often be picked up cheaper else ware.

The majority of the time when you get into a bump you will pay outside of insurance anyway due to the rise in premiums you will incur. Little things like calling the insurer for general questions are even logged and put against your policy with bigger companies.

Road tax is one of those expenses that well all begrudge because you generally don’t see anything for your money besides poorly timed and badly managed roadworks.

Paying for your tax all in one lump sum will save you a few pounds over paying in 6 month periods but this is not the only reason you should pay yearly. One half of your 6 months will also incur the tax inflation of that year and with the new ‘green’ outlook – this looks set to continue.

Last year my tax was set at 104.50 for 6 months or £190 for the year. So paying in two installments makes it £209 a year (£19 extra) which seems about fair given the extra 6 months to pay the extra.

But factor in the change in rates from the existing ones to the new £112.75 for 6 months and £205 for the year and you are looking at 217.25 for the year (27.25 extra) with the extra inflation added to the final 6 months.

This may not seem like a lot of money but in reality it will almost cover the cost of a basic MOT. If it is a case of you needing the extra 6 months to save up the money thenit is unavoidable but otherwise you are just wasting money by not paying yearly. If you swap car in the time you can transfer it over and if you want to cancel it you can at any time.

For those of us that have to drive long distances having a decent car stereo is a must!

Stereos can be expensive and they change so often it is hard to know what is worth buying. With a little of research and a bit of basic handy work you can pick up a cheap second-hand stereo and fit it yourself.

The best place to look for second hand car stereos is just either in your local collection eBay or Gumtree but which stereo is the right one for you?

Outside of decent sound output, connectivity is the main feature of a car stereo. Some have iPod connections, auxiliary outputs, bluetooth, and of course a good old CD player!

If all you need is a CD stereo then you are in luck as there are thousands going wanting for very low prices. If you get yourself an MP3 unit then you will be able to create your own CDs on a computer with around 6 albums on each and be able to skip through them on your stereo.

If you are looking for a stereo to plug in to your iPod or MP3 player you are likely to find something for around £50. You can plug your iPod or auxiliary audio device straight into the front of the unit.

Bluetooth units are great for anyone taking calls on the road as it will allow you to answer your phone from the stereo and talk in to the stereo without even touching your phone. Another great feature if you have a SmartPhone or iPhone is that you can connect it up and play music straight from it without wires. A Bluetooth unit will usually cost over £100 but are certainly worth the extra if you can make use of it.

There are much more expensive high-end units on offer to but we won’t go in to that right now. Just pick what is right for your needs and then so long as you have the stereo keys for your current stereo you can just swap them out. Installation is as simple as changing over the power block, ariel and neutral wires. You may sometimes need to buy a stereo adapter for older cars to connect it up easily (these can be both cheaply over the Internet). Make sure to disconnect your battery before doing anything as this can lead to power shorts (make sure to reset your clock after).

Basic car maintenance is an essential skill for an driver, especially those of us who can’t afford yearly services.

This is as basic as it gets and anyone can do this. If you are unsure about anything then just grab a Haynes manual second hand from somewhere for your car model and year bracket.

Keep water, oil and clutch fluids topped up as this can lead to serious problems with your car. The warning lights in older cars are a little unreliable and the only real way to know for sure is to check yourself.

The water and clutch fuild will be usually be openly visible and just remove the oil tank’s dipstick to check the oil level. Make sure the car has been switched off for a while and that the car is on a level surface before checking (level should read the higher end between the two markers). consult car or Haynes manual for oil types.

Screen wash is important for long journeys as the windscreen must be clear to see through properly. Make sure you have it topped up before each long journey and if it is not pre-mixed make sure to mix the right concentrate for the temperature conditions.

Keep tyres pumped up as under-inflated tyres wastes petrol, you can fill your tyres for free at most supermarkets. Your mechanic or car manual will give you the pressures you need.

This should lead to a long happy car life and a few quid saved on petrol.

If like me you have an old car with key locks and no central locking then the winter can be a pain with locks freezing!

By don’t worry there are easy steps to getting back in to your car easily.

First off, never leave your ice scraper in your car if you only have one as you will need to remove the ice from the window and door. Once the ice is removed from the window and locking area use a lighter to heat up your car key (make sure you never touch the plastic part of the key with the flame!). When the key is hot put it in to the lock and slowly start to free the lock up, do not force it as this can lead to snapping the lock or the key. Repeat this a few times and you should be back in your car in no time avoiding being late and having to take the bus.

Once you are back in the car, start it up and while it is warming up use some WD-40 in the locks and this will prevent them freezing up again. If you were lucky enough to read this before your car locks froze again just get some WD-40 in there to prevent it.

Sometimes the old methods are the best methods.