When it comes to investing in life necessities, you usually dump a lot of money into a place to live, your weekly grocery shop, and getting yourself from A to B. These are what people need to keep them semi functional in the modern world, and we’re always willing to spend a more and more money to make ourselves comfortable with the use of them. But let’s spend some time exploring the vehicle you own: you’ve undertaken a pretty huge investment akin to owning a mini house.

And sure, it pays you back with how much road use you get out of it, but is that all your car can do for you? Does it just sit in your driveway when you’re not behind the wheel? What if you get into an accident, will you stay get the compensation you need out of it? All these questions can be answered easily if you consider the points below, so read on if you want to know more about getting the most out of your vehicle.

Open the Window

The air conditioning in your car often removes the need to actually open the window, which can be incredibly distracting when you’re driving down the fast lane. But if you’re going short distances and it’s too hot inside your vehicle, it’s a better idea than putting the air cooler on. Slower speeds are great for this, as you won’t be using up any valuable fuel during your journey, and instead have more in the tank.

It might seem like a little matter, but throughout the year it could save you hundreds. Seeing these things pay off in the long run always make sure we continue in our habits, so don’t opt for the air cooler the next time you’re heading out on a summer road trip.

Take the Weight Off

If your vehicle is being constantly weighed down by something in the trunk, or the roof racks on the top of the car, you’re going to be using a lot more fuel in your journeys than is necessary. Seeing as they didn’t come with the car, and their implementation is rarely thought of in the manufacturing world unless you have an ultra new model to your name, the car wasn’t built to go full time with these additions.

You’re going to be dragging along on the road when you take the extra weight and the air resistance into account, and you might just need to rev the engine more than usual. And that can immediately lower the value of your vehicle as a whole! So take off those racks and unload whatever is in the trunk of your car to give your tires, engine, and your wallet a bit of a breather. You’re going to be kicking yourself by the end of the year if you don’t take the time to clear out the back of your car right now!

Navigating an Accident

If you ever get into a car accident, there’s usually two people involved: the victim and the perpetrator. However, the lines are never the clear cut, and unless someone immediately owns up to causing a crash (or a bump), there’s a good chance a court case will be involved. This can be lengthy and painful, and all the time you’re involved in a case like this, there’s a good chance you’re not going to get much use out of your very expensive car.

So the first thing to make sure of is that you have insurance. If you’ve got insurance on your vehicle, you’re going to be able to manage any of the expenses the damage will have caused. And you’ll still have a vehicle or the means to get a new one at the end of the day, as too much damage will get your car written off, and usually it will be automatically replaced.

Next, try to find yourself a car accident lawyer, as these are specialists in these kinds of cases. You’re going to need this versatile experience to make sure you’re not agreeing to any deals that’ll cost you thousands, and to minimise the already extensive damage to both your car use and your bank account.

Avoid Using Neutral

When you’re operating normally on the road, going into neutral for any other reason than needing to stop your car is going to cost you more fuel than you think. Staying in the right gear whenever you need to change your speed is going to be the most cost effective solution here, so always be aware of the speed you’re going at and try to slow yourself down whenever you’re racing along the motorway.

At the same time, coasting downhill in neutral isn’t going to work out very well for you car, as the engine is in a neutral state. And when it’s not working in the way it should be, you’re going to be consuming more fuel than you need to to keep on going. Best put it in first gear with the clutch down and let the car roll until you get to the junction, or back onto the flat again. We all know how to start the car when we’re on a hill, so use the same practice here.

So, Would You Consider Yourself a Good Driver?

We all have skills of our own, and being able to operate a car is one of the best life skills you can have to your name. But that doesn’t mean you know everything about it, and at the same time it doesn’t mean what works for someone else will work for you.

However, these are the most general ideas that will work for everyone. Keep them in mind the next time you’re behind the wheel to ensure you get as much use out of your vehicle as you can. You never know, you might just get a few more miles out of your vehicle and not spend as many pennies on it as you used to!