Car maintenance

Motorists have been urged to remember the importance of basic car maintenance on their new or used car. These will not only help you to reduce costs but also help to improve your safety.
 
comparethemarket.com understands that even the most reliable vehicle can break down at the most inopportune moment.
 
For instance, statistics from the RAC, a car insurance company, indicate that 11 per cent of couples will experience a car breakdown on their wedding day, with a lack of car care affecting 5,000 weddings each summer.
 
Apart from such unfortunate timing, a bill for car repair can also run into hundreds of pounds per hour, quickly adding up for people with no breakdown cover included in their car insurance policy.
 
In the 2006 Warranty Direct garage labor rates survey, it is estimated that a British motorist will typically be charged £72.28 for sixty minutes of car maintenance work.
 
However, London motorists have been charged up to £170.61 for an hour of car repair work from a franchised dealer.
 
Consequently, comparethemarket.com believes that it can make financial sense for drivers to conduct their own basic car maintenance checks.
 
This could include checking that the tread and pressure of all four car tyres meet road safety requirements, before lifting the bonnet to top up oil, and windscreen wash levels.

Getting your car serviced regularly is another way to save money in the future, by spending a little you will ultimately save a lot, as identifying and preventing a problem will always work out cheaper than having to repair it once the worst has happened. Furthermore by not keeping your service history you are depreciating your car's value.

Additionally, comparethemarket.com suggests that motorists could consider adding breakdown cover to their car insurance. Although a car insurance broker will typically only pay out car maintenance costs beyond a pre-defined excess, drivers may find that the protection offers value-for-money in the long-term. It is worth bearing in mind that most policies cover both you and your car, so if you are a passenger in another car and it breaks down, you can claim on your policy.