Regular servicing, maintenance and MOTs play an essential role in ensuring your car stays safe on the road. With the rising cost of living, and all of us looking to save money wherever we can, the next part of our series explores where you can make savings when it comes to your car servicing, maintenance and MOT.
Check out the other articles in our money-saving tips series, for some top tips on topics like fuel, car insurance and parking:
Check for obvious faults ahead of your MOT
Each year, thousands of vehicles fail their MOT because of simple things like faulty bulbs, empty washer fluid bottles, cluttered windscreens or low tyre treads. Save yourself the cost of a re-testing fee and potential repairs by checking on these areas ahead of time and making sure your car is ready to face its MOT.
Check out our articles for more tips on how to get your car ready for its MOT and what’s checked in an MOT.
Take advantage of an MOT/service combi deal
An MOT is a legal requirement and having your car regularly serviced is an important way of staying on top of any necessary repairs and preventing bigger bills further down the line (as well as ensuring your car is running more efficiently).
Choosing an MOT and service combi deal can help you stay on top of both and save up to £29.99 when you join the Halfords Motoring Club for free. Here at Halfords, there are three handy options to choose from depending on what level of service you need:
Wash your car yourself
Hand car wash centres are certainly convenient, but those £5.00 bi-weekly visits can soon start to add up. Why not grab a bucket, a sponge and some car shampoo instead? Washing your car on your drive won’t just save you money, but it’ll also give you an opportunity to keep an eye on its condition and get any damage fixed before it gets too severe.
With the hot and dry summer leading to hosepipe bans, you might be looking for ways to clean your car with less water and keep the water bills down. Thankfully we’ve got some top tips to help you do just that, as well as advice on how to wash your car without using a hose.
Buy your car tax annually
Like MOTs and servicing, car tax is a standard part of car ownership. However, there is the potential to make some savings here by choosing the most cost-effective way to pay.
You’ll have the options to pay monthly, six-monthly or annually. If you’re in a position to be able to pay the full amount upfront, then it works out cheaper in the long-run than paying on month-by-month basis.
Maintain your car
Regular car servicing and maintenance may seem like quite a lot to stay on top of, but there’s a good chance it’ll save you money in the long run.
Replacing a clogged air filter, worn spark plugs or old engine oil will all help to improve your miles-per-gallon, while regular servicing will give you the opportunity to spot many potential issues before they occur (reducing the likelihood of expensive repair bills). It’ll also help to maintain the value of your vehicle if you decide to sell your car.
Consider economical tyres
A worn, damaged or flat tyre is both inconvenient and an unwelcome extra expense. But while it might be tempting to keep costs down by buying the cheapest replacement tyre available, this is another example where spending a little bit more upfront could actually save you money long-term.
Mid-range or premium tyres will generally last longer and perform more effectively than budget tyres, and can help to increase your fuel economy. For a handy breakdown of the benefits of each type, have a read of our article on the topic.
Join the Halfords Motoring Club
The Halfords Motoring Club gives you access to a range of benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving.
It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or upgrade to our Premium membership for a small monthly fee to unlock a free MOT, two free car health checks, exclusive member pricing on all Halfords motoring products and services, and a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep motoring for less.
To join the Halfords Motoring Club, simply choose your plan online or scan one of the QR codes in-store.
We hope these tips help you to save some money and get the best deals on your car servicing, maintenance and MOT.
Head on over to Halfords.com for all of your motoring needs and to keep on motoring for less with the best prices on thousands of essentials like fitted batteries, tyres, bulbs and wiper blades.
