Remember when cars weren’t that expensive? Us neither. In South Africa, cars have always been on the pricey side, so it makes sense that we’d want them to last as long as possible. This means doing everything in our power to take care of the parts, drive carefully, and even drive less. You know, to reduce the risk of anything happening.
Here are some of the best ways to make your car last for many more years to come.
Don’t ignore your owner’s manual
Ignore your owner’s manual at your peril! This lifesaving booklet includes your car’s maintenance schedule, like when to plan major services like oil and filter changes, tyre rotations, belt replacements, and that sort of thing.
Paying attention to your maintenance schedule can make the difference between driving merrily along and a costly breakdown. Not only that, but by catching problems early enough, you can prevent them from turning into big repairs with big price tags further down the line.
Ultimately, this will ensure that your car lasts longer and performs better.
Drive smoothly
We can’t stress enough just how much the way you drive your car impacts how long it lasts. If you drive smoothly, you can minimise the wear and tear and increase your car’s longevity. Oh, and it can help you save on fuel costs and keep you safer on the road.
This type of driving behaviour can affect your car:
- Driving too fast.
- Rapid acceleration.
- Hitting the brakes hard.
- Sharp cornering and swerving between lanes.
- Taking lots of short trips.
Keep your car’s parts moving as they should
A car warranty pays to repair or replace car parts that fail unexpectedly instead of draining your budget. It’s an affordable monthly policy (note: Not a service plan!) that saves you from reaching into your own pocket to pay for expensive breakdown costs. Making sure that repairs are done quickly and to an excellent standard will make your car last longer and increase its value.
Yes, it’s true. People tend to pay more for cars that have warranties because they believe that you’ve looked after it appropriately. So, if you’re considering selling your car in the future, this is a good product to invest in.
Click here to get a commitment-free quote for super cheap, strangely simple car warranty cover.
Protect your car from the elements
South Africa boasts an incredible climate, but let’s not kid ourselves… In addition to all the brilliant sunshine, there’s also rain, hail, and in some parts of the country, bouts of snow. Protect your car from the elements and prevent your paint job from taking a real beating by parking undercover as much as possible. If you don’t have a garage, consider a car cover to protect it from harsher conditions.
Looking after your car’s exterior will go a long way to extending its lifeline.
Pay a little extra for quality
There’s no way around this… Cheaper, low-quality car parts can cause serious damage to your car and lead to expensive repairs later on. This is actually another reason to look into a car warranty, because you’ll be assured of high-quality repairs and replacements. However, this also means that you should opt for better quality products, like engine oil and transmission fluid.
Pump it up
By checking your tyres regularly you can monitor their condition and get ahead of issues that could compromise your safety, improve your handling on the road, avoid a blowout, and extend the life of your tyres… Which goes a long way to making sure that your car lasts longer.
Actually, you could also think about investing in a budget-friendly tyre and rim insurance policy so that you can cover the cost of repairing or replacing your tyres and rims. This way, you can be sure of keeping your wheels in good condition without having to use your monthly budget.
We hope that these tips help you get the most out of your car and make it last as long as possible.
Posted in Partnership with King Price Insurance
