Car Care: Making the Most of Your Investment
Published on December 21, 2024
•4 min read
Buying or leasing any time soon? It’s a big decision for the buyer, and it can be difficult to decide which route is best for your wallet.
Cars are often depreciating assets, meaning the minute you drive it off the lot its value starts to drop. This doesn’t mean your car isn’t valuable and shouldn’t be considered an investment because it is—it’s all about how you take care of it.
Picking the Right Car
Everyone’s car needs vary, so a vehicle that has value for you and your money might not work for someone else. There are, however, some brands or specific vehicle models that are known for holding value more than others.
When looking for your next vehicle, independent research can help you decide what is best for you:
- Narrow in on what your specific needs are.
- Figure out what size vehicle you’re more comfortable driving.
- Find a vehicle at a price that makes sense.
Identifying your specific needs will shrink your search down significantly. For example, you might need a third row to fit your whole family. You might need a trunk that can fit sports equipment, or a car built for back roads.
Vehicle comfort matters more than some may think. Purchasing or leasing a car you’re not comfortable with can put you in a financial hole. Again, once you drive that car off the lot, the value goes down and if you’re very unhappy with the car you chose, you could be stuck eating the cost if you need to switch.
The price, of course, is the most important decision for most buyers. Agreeing to purchase a car at a price over what you budgeted for can cause additional financial burden and, in a worst-case scenario, could create a situation where your car is taken from you, or you’re forced to give it up.
It is crucial that you create a buying or leasing budget that is built for your life and whatever is thrown at you. At a time when car insurance rates for many Americans seem to climb, your monthly payment needs to be something you can manage.
Routine Maintenance
When you’ve made the purchase and drove the vehicle off the lot, it’s now time to make the most of that investment. The best way to hold value is by sticking to routine maintenance on your new car.
What does routine maintenance look like?
- Routine maintenance service
- Consistent with basic services
- Detailing inside and outside of the car
We schedule annual checkups with our doctors, so why wouldn’t we schedule checkups for our vehicles?
A vehicle servicing with a mechanic and/or dealership can help you know if you’re car is running well, and what you might need to get work on. While your car could be running okay, an issue could be lingering—and a routine check could catch it before it becomes serious and more expensive to fix.
Most companies will tell you how often you should bring the car in to be serviced, and they usually tracked by milage. Whether it’s every 30,000 or 50,000 miles, make sure you follow that outline the best you can, so your car keeps running smoothly.
Like a regular service appointment, there are some other services to routinely keep track of.
Oil changes, spark plugs, filters, tire rotation are more common needs your car will have. They’re easy to get done but can also be easily neglected. If let undone for too long, it can impact your car’s health and lead to more serious issues.
Why Car Care Matters
Anything that your money is paying into deserves your time and attention.
If you want to retain any trade-in value or even pass the car down to someone else when you’re ready to move on to your next ride, regular maintenance of your current car is essential. Doing little to nothing will show, whether it’s the way the car runs or the way the car looks.
Plus, routine car care can help to avoid small problems snowballing into larger issues that can often lead to more expensive repairs or tune ups.
You can go a step further and put a little money aside monthly to dedicate to your vehicle maintenance. A Membership Savings account is a good place to ‘set and forget’ a direct deposit that can help you save for those routine maintenance appointments or in the event of your vehicle needing a bigger fix.
Looking for more ways to save on your monthly car expenses? Metro Insurance Advisors can help you determine whether you’re getting the lowest car insurance payment with the best policy for you. Our virtual insurance expert Lily is ready to get you quotes!
