Bringing Down the Cost of Motoring

Driving is no longer the cheap way of getting around it once was, thanks to rising fuel prices, increasing car insurance premiums and parking charges, road tolls, and heavy fines if you're caught breaking the speed limit.

But this doesn't mean you should be paying over the odds. Whether it's through reducing your fuel consumption or simply adjusting your car insurance policy - you could save yourself a few pounds.

Cut your petrol bills

For starters, if the price of fuel is your main gripe, there are ways in which you can help reduce petrol bills. To start with, you can actually shop around for petrol through websites such as petrolprices.com, a service which allows people to search for the cheapest petrol in their local area, simply by typing in a postcode. There may even be a difference in petrol prices per litre between two garages which are quite close together, meaning a simple change of garage could save you a considerable amount of cash in the course of a year.

Eco driving

Eco or green driving has been a hot topic for a while now, and a few simple adjustments to your technique could see you reduce your fuel consumption and costs. Advice includes driving in the highest gear possible as motoring along at considerable speed in a low gear can up your fuel consumption considerably. You can also improve your fuel economy simply by making sure your tyres are pumped up to the correct level. Too flat, and greater power is needed to drive the car, resulting again in higher fuel consumption over long periods.

Think about excess weight in your vehicle as well. If you're carrying anything like a roof rack you don't use or a tool kit in the back which isn't essential, consider removing it. The more gear on board, the more weight you're carrying and the harder your engine has to work and burn petrol or diesel to drive the car.

Cut your car insurance costs

Car insurance is also an expense which many people find they can save money on by making a few simple adjustments. Following a series of basic tips could see you reduce your car cover costs every year. Here's a few things you could try:

????????? improving your car's security system.

????????? finding a garage where you can park it regularly.

????????? remembering to tell your insurer if you've moved to an area with less crime.

????????? shop around for the right deal for you using a car insurance comparison website.

All of these could result in a reduction in the cost of your premium. This is because the harder the car is to steal, or the less likely it is to be stolen, the more likely it is that your car cover company will be prepared to reduce your premium.

And parking your vehicle can in some cases mean an annual outlay of thousands of pounds, so finding a better spot can pay dividends in the long run. Is there a different place where you can leave your vehicle during the day, perhaps just a short distance from your regular car park? And is it any cheaper? Also, in a number of big cities some people living close to town have taken to renting out their driveways during the day to make extra cash. So if there are any near you or perhaps you go past a house everyday which has a completely empty driveway, why not find out if they are willing to let you use it in exchange for some money.

Finally, using a car insurance comparison website enables you to compare the different policies on offer so that you can find car cover that fits your budget.

Russell Marlow is a London based freelance writer who writes about financial products including car insurance.