How to reduce car insurance and other costs

Driving with efficiency in mind

Here are some things to pay attention to that could save you money on your car insurance and over the life of your vehicle.

• Don’t idle as it uses more fuel than restarting your car. You save money and it helps prevent unnecessary greenhouse gases.
• Lighten what you’re hauling. You lose fuel efficiency when you’re carrying a heavier load because your car needs more power.
• Accelerate smoothly and avoid aggressive starts and stops. Hard accelerations consume more fuel and can wear out your engine and tires faster.
• Consider using cruise control on highways with optimal conditions to help you maintain a constant speed and maximize fuel efficiency.
• Minimize air conditioning to reduce the stress on your car’s engine.
• Warm up your car with a block heater in the winter. Cold engines burn more fuel and emit more exhaust.

Keeping your vehicle well-maintained

Regularly change fluids and filters

Automatic transmission and brake fluid should be changed every 50,000 to 100,000km (or whatever interval the Owner’s Manual recommends).

Check the brakes

as pad and rotors wear down when they’re applied to slow the car. When they get near the end of their service life, “stopping” performance wears down, too. Replace brake pads that are too thin or damaged rotors.

Check the electrical system.

If your car battery is charged but the engine still struggles to turn over, there may be a problem with your starter motor.

Rotate your tires

especially with all-wheel-drive vehicles as tire rotation is critical to prolonging the life of components.

Use a reliable shop for repairs and maintenance.

In addition to any repairs needed, a reputable repair facility can help you with ongoing preventative maintenance on your auto, saving you money in the long term and extending the life of your automobile.