228 – Buying and Maintaining an Affordable Car

The best way to control your auto expenses is to buy a car you can afford.  This keeps your monthly car loan payments low (since you borrow less) and ensures that you don't over-finance. But how do you buy an affordable car that fits within your budget?  Should you buy new or used?  If it's used, how can you know it's reliable?

Enter Scott Marshall. With 30 years of experience in the driver training industry, he shares his first-hand knowledge of how to make car ownership affordable. He also suggests that there is a correlation between safe driving and saving money.

8 Ways to Make Car Ownership Affordable

Scott shares the following tips for successfully keeping your car buying costs low:

1. Buy used. According to Scott, a used car is a great way to achieve affordability. A used vehicle can be reliable if you're strategic in your purchase and maintain your car well. 
2. Buy a car that's only 3 or 4 years old. Your car will still be very close to the most modern vehicle, but at only 60% of the cost. Don't worry about newer features because the most important ones (anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and airbags) are all standard anyway.
3. Buy from a credible dealer. Browse websites like Auto Trader, where you can find a car that is certified pre-owned, meaning it's backed by the original manufacturer. That also means it's  been through rigorous inspection.
4. Save on insurance proactively. Your insurance payments depend partly on the type of car you buy. Minimize these monthly costs by asking your insurance company how much your payments will be based on vehicle models.
5. Test-drive more than one car. Don't give up if you're unhappy with your first test-drive. If you've found a model that fits your budget, test multiple cars. They will each drive differently, even if they're the same make.
6. Save money on tires by alternating them. Scott suggests buying winter tires in the colder months to replace your all-seasons. Even at a temperature of plus 7 degrees Celsius, all-season tires will harden and wear more quickly. By investing in winter tires, you can extend the life of your all-seasons by 3 or 4 more years, saving you a lot of money in the future.
7. Consider getting a CAA membership. CAA memberships cost less than $80 a year. While this still sounds like an added expense, it saves you hundreds of dollars on a towing service in the event of a roadside emergency. 
8. Determine the kind of car you'll need 5 years from now. Think carefully before you buy your vehicle. If you think you'll need a bigger car in the future, don't buy a smaller one now. You'll save a lot more money because you'll avoid rolling over auto loans and risking financial trouble.