Saving Money on Your Family Car

*Collaborative Post

Finding the right car for your family can be a challenge, especially when you’re trying to balance conflicting concerns such as size, quality, car features and environmental impact. Whatever your individual needs and priorities, follow these tips to ensure you get the most cost-effective option.

Consider used cars

It’s sad but true that brand-new vehicles lose 15% of their value as soon as they are driven away by the buyer, and continue to depreciate by the same amount year-on-year throughout their lifetime.

As they have already experienced their major depreciation, used cars on the market retain their value far more effectively. In other words, they are cheaper to buy so the price difference between the point of purchase and the point of resale is significantly lower, and you’ll lose less on your overall investment.

When shopping used cars, you risk buying something unsafe if you don’t pay attention to the quality of the model, especially if you go through an independent seller. Check the MOT and accident history, service log book and mileage as well as analysing the vehicle’s appearance.

Select a spacious model

Mums know all too well that children come with a lot of things, from a pram and car seat to endless on-the-go items such as wipes, nappies, toys and food. It’s important to select a spacious model that can comfortably fit these items – and your children – when choosing your vehicle, otherwise you will have to keep upgrading as your family (or their belongings) grows!

The Ford Focus and Peugeot 308 are roomy for rear passengers, perfect if you need to include bulky car seats and boosters and hang mirrors or toys for backwards-facing babies. Skoda cars, especially the Octavia, have generous boot space.

Prioritise running costs

Ensure your vehicle is cost-effective by looking beyond the price tag to the running costs. A cheap car that is expensive to own could cost you more money in the long run.

With fuel prices set to stay high for the foreseeable future, it’s more important than ever to consider fuel efficiency. If you primarily drive short journeys around towns and cities, look at cars that are quick to warm up like the Peugeot 208 and Kia Niro that will give you superior mileage per litre of fuel. For hybrid driving, go for hybrid models like the Toyota Prius for sustained fuel efficiency across diverse journeys.

Remember that higher-priced cars tend to have corresponding expensive premiums and tax charges. You can check vehicle tax rates and compare insurance costs through online platforms find the best overall option.

Choose easy maintenance

Finally, make your life easy and opt for a car that will require minimal maintenance. Analyse the condition of the interior and exterior, especially if buying a used model, with the help of a mechanic if possible. Brakes, lights and tyres are most important but don’t overlook rips in seat fabric and dents in the bodywork.

Try to go for a popular model so it’s easy to find spare parts if and when repairs are needed. It’s worth bearing in mind that electric models require less maintenance as they don’t have a combustion engine but need more expensive services less frequently from specialist providers.

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.