When the economic climate is hard maintaining a car can seem daunting, so it is sometimes tempting not to spend the money. But, this is a false economy, if a car is not well maintained it will reduce its resale, or trade in value and can lead to serious mechanical problems.

Luckily by taking a few simple steps you can considerably reduce the cost of maintaining your vehicle without any adverse effects. The most important thing to do is to shop around whenever you need some work doing on your car. It sounds obvious, but we are all guilty of just going to the garage which is nearest to us. Once you find the local mechanic or garage that is offering the best price, double check that the price includes everything and that it is a fixed price.

You should also shop around for insurance. If you get a quote from one company give other companies the chance to match the offer. Consider raising the level of excess that you pay in the case of an accident. Some companies offer a discount if your car is stored in the garage, if this is the case move some of you junk out of your garage and put your car in it.

Reduce your fuel costs by removing extra weight from your car, driving well and avoiding the rush hour and roadworks. Reducing drag will also help to minimise your fuel costs, you can achieve this by removing roof or cycle racks, and repairing any loose trim on your car. Keeping your sunroof and windows closed also helps to reduce drag. Avoid using air-conditioning or other electrical systems, all these systems use fuel.

Buying used or re-conditioned parts for your car is another method of reducing the cost of maintaining your car. Parts like mirrors, body panels and switches do not need to be new to do the job. Use your local scrap yard, or one of the many on-line companies to find the parts for you. If you need accessories for your car try to only buy these in the sales.

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