The cost of owning a car can go up as the car ages. However, you can keep your car running costs relatively low with a few quick tips. We’re going to go over the average cost of running a car and how to save on petrol below.
Average Cost of Running a Car
The total annual car running costs depends largely on where you live in Australia. The following costs are for a single-car household in regional and city households.
| Expense | City | Regional |
| Loan Repayments | $60.91 | $60.90 |
| CTP, License and Registration | $15.71 | $14.24 |
| Insurance (Comprehensive) | $11.18 | $8.67 |
| Tyre and Servicing | $14.12 | $13.17 |
| Fuel | $34.76 | $36.73 |
| Toll Roads | $29.86 | $11.95 |
| Weekly Total: | $166.55 | $145.66 |
| Yearly Total: | $8,660.60 | $7,574.32 |
As you can see, your totals can really add up. If you add a second car, you can easily double your weekly and yearly car running costs. However, there are ways you can save on car expenses and petrol, and they’re relatively easy to do.
How to Save Money on Car Running Costs
Before we give you a few tips about how to save money on petrol, we’ll go over a few things you can do to save money with your average car running costs. These things include but are not limited to:
- Make Your Payments on Time – As long as there are no penalties for doing so, consider paying your car loan back ahead of time. If you can afford to pay more than the balance due each month, do it. You’ll end up paying less in interest payments.
- Shop for Insurance – You shouldn’t go with the first insurance company you look into. Instead, get quotes from at least four different car insurance entities and compare them. It could save you hundreds a year, but you do want to make sure you’re getting all of the coverage you need.
- Set a Routine Maintenance Schedule – Take your car in or change the oil yourself on schedule and keep a good eye on your tyres. This routine can help you catch problems early and keep your car in good running condition.
How to Save Money on Petrol
There are ways you can save money on petrol as well as car running costs. First, try to add petrol to your car on Tuesdays or Wednesdays to save and avoid the weekends. Woolworths and Coles also offer fuel vouchers that you can use to get a few cents off each gallon of petrol you buy.
If you’re heading to the Outback, get a can of petrol to take with you. Prices tend to skyrocket in these areas. You can also consider ride-sharing with a group of friends to help save in fuel costs. Driving on the highway instead of small streets can burn less petrol and save money as well.
Contact Quickle for A Quote Today!
Do you need a short-term loan to help cover your car running costs? Maybe you have questions or concerns. Either way, you can contact us today!
