The cost of motoring has risen significantly in recent years, particularly with the rapid rise in petrol prices. There are however a number of ways in which you can reduce the cost of motoring. Try following our Top 10 Tips below and you could be driving further for less.
1. Get the best deal on petrol prices. The price of petrol can vary by as much as 10p a litre in local areas. PetrolPrices.com is a free service allowing people to search for the cheapest petrol in their area. They review 8,000 prices daily to ensure that their information is as up-to-date as possible.
2. Drive in the highest gear. Driving at high speeds in low gears can result in 45% more fuel being consumed than needed.
3. Keep your tyres pumped up to the correct level. Fuel economy can be improved by up to 5% by keeping your tyres inflated to the correct level. The recommended pressure for your tyres can be found in your vehicle handbook and, in some cases, next to the air device at petrol stations.
4. Don’t drive erratically. Constantly accelerating and braking consumes more fuel than smoother driving. Look ahead to anticipate potential road blockages which will reduce the need for sudden breaking. For peak efficiency don’t push the accelerator down further than one-quarter of the total foot travel.
5. Save money on car insurance. Internet comparison sites, such as Confused.com, are an excellent way to find the cheapest quote. Car insurance quotes can vary by hundreds of pounds so huge savings can be made.
6. Find cheaper parking. Many people now rent out their driveway or garage to commuters on a long-term basis. YourParkingSpace.co.uk is a site where cheaper long-term parking can be found.
7. Don’t overuse the air conditioning or heater. Overheating the car and then having to open the windows is a waste of energy and lowers your fuel economy.
8. Avoid short journeys. Driving short distances is significantly less fuel efficient than longer journeys. For example, every time your car engine is turned on it is equivalent to idling your engine for one minute. Instead set time aside to walk short distances.
9. Share a journey. Sharing a lift into work with one other person slashes your fuel bill by half by allowing you to share the cost of driving. Liftshare.org has over 130,000 members and provides a way of finding someone traveling in your direction.
10. Close your windows. Having windows open at high speeds creates significant drag meaning that more fuel is used. Even if closing your windows means the air conditioning is required it is still more fuel efficient.
About the Author:
Charles Cridland founded http://www.yourparkingspace.co.uk/, a site where you can earn money through renting out your private parking space, or find convenient and affordable long-term parking.
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Hybrid Car Tax Credit
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 replaced the clean-fuel burning deduction with a tax credit. A tax credit is subtracted directly from the total amount of federal tax owed, thus reducing or even eliminating the taxpayer’s tax obligation. The tax credit for hybrid vehicles applies to vehicles purchased or placed in service on or after January 1, 2006.
The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a new, qualifying vehicle. If a qualifying vehicle is leased to a consumer, the leasing company may claim the credit.
Hybrid vehicles have drive trains powered by both an internal combustion engine and a rechargeable battery. Many currently available hybrid vehicles may qualify for the tax credit.
This reflects a decrease in the credit amount as of Oct. 1, 2006, due to the manufacturers meeting quarterly sales of 60,000 qualified hybrid cars — See Quarterly Sales, below.
This credit amount does not phase out. The full amount of the altenative fuel vehicle credit would be available for vehicles purchased on or before December 31, 2010.
Quarterly Sales
Consumers seeking the credit may want to buy early since the full credit is only available for a limited time. Taxpayers may claim the full amount of the allowable credit up to the end of the first calendar quarter after the quarter in which the manufacturer records its sale of the 60,000th hybrid passenger automobile or light truck or advance lean burn technology motor vehicle. For the second and third calendar quarters after the quarter in which the 60,000th vehicle is sold, taxpayers may claim 50 percent of the credit. For the fourth and fifth calendar quarters, taxpayers may claim 25 percent of the credit. No credit is allowed after the fifth quarter.