How students can save money on their vehicle

Being a student is all about saving the pennies. Especially in this day and age when university fees have risen a substantial amount and the cost of living has gone up, you need to save any scrap of money you can get your hands on.

This means that when it comes to buying a car, your dream vehicle is probably off the cards for the time being and you will need to look for something economic that will get you from A to B. If public transport is an issue that’s great, but for many students that don’t live near campus, or have a part-time job, a car might be a necessary expense.

We’ve got some tips and tricks on how students can save money when it comes to buying a car.

Shop around

This isn’t a time to be picky, but at the same time, you can’t be impatient and pick the first thing you see. It’s all about finding the right deal and this may take some time.

There are several places you can look for a good deal such as car dealerships, independent car dealers, eBay, Gumtree and asking local friends and family. If it is someone you know selling the vehicle then you are most likely to get a good deal as they might be willing to bargain with you.

Another idea is to bring someone with you that knows about cars, inside and out. Choosing a vehicle can be difficult, especially if you don’t know what to look out for. Bring someone that has a good knowledge of vehicles, or a mechanic you know. This way they can check things such as the engine, brakes and exhaust, and ask the relevant questions to ensure you aren’t being sold a broken vehicle. They could even help get you some money off too.

Look at young driver deals

If you’re looking for something a little slicker and new and you have more money to spend then you should consider going to a dealership and asking what young driver offers they have on.

Often companies such as Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Citroen will have deals on their smaller models like the Polo, Corsa and C1 that have been tailored towards young people. These deals might have low monthly finance repayments, plus insurance thrown into it, which is a cost that you can erase then.

Student car insurance

Car insurance is the big cost that often stops young driver and students from being able to afford to drive, but this isn’t the case so much anymore.

One option to consider is getting a black box (telematics box) fitted to your vehicle to reduce the cost. Insurance companies often offer black box insurance to younger drivers so that they can monitor how safely you drive and from here give you the best car insurance they can and overall, a more appropriate price.

This can be a great alternative to normal insurance because the better you drive, the more your insurance is reduced each year. You can compare the price of a black box and another student insurance through Car.co.uk

Don’t Ignore Long-Term Tech Value

While it’s easy to focus on just the upfront cost of buying a car, paying attention to the vehicle’s tech features can save you money in the long run. Many older student-budget cars lack things like built-in GPS or Bluetooth, which could lead you to buy separate devices or waste time and fuel navigating the wrong way. Investing in something as simple as a kia head unit upgrade for example, can give you access to smartphone integration, real-time traffic updates, and hands-free calling—all of which can boost safety and convenience without breaking the bank. It’s a one-time expense that can pay off in both usability and fuel savings.

Choose a low maintenance vehicle

When it comes to choosing the make and model of the vehicle, this is an essential thing to consider when you are trying to cut costs. Vehicles with smaller engines are usually cheaper than ones with bigger engines because they cannot go as fast. On top of this, a smaller engine means that you won’t use up petrol as quickly.

Likewise, cars that are associated with fast drivers such as a Volkswagen Golf usually have much higher insurance premiums because they are expecting the driver to be using it for speed. It is small things like this to look out for when finding a cheaper way to drive.

Hopefully, this article will have gone some way in helping you in how students can save money on their vehicle. If you have any more tips, please leave them in the comments below.