Affording A Car When Living In A City
City living is expensive. When trying to reduce living costs, many people give up driving. But this doesn’t always have to be the case – if you love driving or have a practical need for it, there could still be ways to afford a car. Here are just a few tips that could help to keep city driving costs low.
Opt for a used vehicle
Brand new cars are typically much more expensive to buy than used cars. They’re also a bigger target for car theft – which is more popular in cities. A used car is a much better option for city driving. Of course, certain running costs such as maintenance may be higher, but by only using trusted sellers and avoiding certain notoriously unreliable models you can reduce the chance of expensive repairs.
Shop around for insurance
Insurance can be more expensive when living in a city. You’re best off using specialist sites like InsuredAsap.com to find cheap quotes. You may be able to reduce insurance costs if you have the option of off-road parking.
Minimize accidents with a small car
Accidents are common in cities, usually as a result of having to negotiate narrower and more congested streets, as well as squeezing into narrow parking spaces. A small car could make city driving a lot easier, allowing you to negotiate those tighter gaps without the risk of accident, which means less expensive repairs.
Use apps to find cheap parking
Free parking can be challenging if not impossible to find in most cities. This means having to spend a huge amount on parking whenever you take the car out. Apps as found at sites like JustPark.com can be worth downloading onto your phone to find the cheapest parking rates nearby. Such apps even allow you to rent out people’s private driveways as a cheap alternative to public parking.
Go electric
Electric cars can often be an economical option when driving in a city. Several cities in the world have introduced incentives to encourage more electric car drivers including free parking and free charging points for electric vehicles. In cities such as London, electric vehicle are even exempt from road tax and emissions charges.
Don’t drive everywhere
Driving less is by far the best way to save money on car ownership in a city. Public transport in most cities is more convenient and cheaper than driving. Unless there are practical needs to driving such as having to pick up shopping or getting to places outside of the city, consider whether you really need to drive.
Alternatively, make money out of your vehicle…There could be ways of covering the cost of driving by making money out of your vehicle. This could include getting involved in ride-sharing or even renting out your vehicle to friends. In cities, this can often be a lucrative side-hustle.