(Akiit.com) A car is a necessity for most people, but owning a vehicle can be expensive. It costs a lot to buy one in the first place, especially if you don’t have a very good financing deal. Then you have to cover the cost of the fuel and all of the maintenance, which quickly adds up. However, there are some simple ways that you can reduce those costs in a big way. These are some of the easiest ways to slash the cost of car ownership.
Buy The Right Car
When you are choosing a car, it’s important that you consider the running costs as well as the price of the car. If you buy a very inefficient car that uses a huge amount of fuel, you will spend so much money every month just getting to and from work. But if you find a car that has low fuel consumption or even consider a hybrid, you will save a lot of money. Visit www.consumerreports.org for a great list of the most economical cars you can buy right now. 
It’s also important that you consider the repair costs of the car that you are buying. Some cars are very difficult to repair and source parts for, so even small issues will be very expensive. It’s worth checking this beforehand so you can make sure to buy a car that is relatively cheap to repair.
Find A Reliable Mechanic
Mechanics have a reputation for trying to rip people off, but there are still plenty of reliable ones out there. If you find an experienced mechanic that charges fair prices (like this one at www.eliteautomotive.vegas), you don’t have to worry about finding the money for a huge bill when something goes wrong with your car. Once you find a mechanic that you like, always stick with the same one because they will often give you good deals if you keep giving them work.
Shop Around For Financing Deals
Car dealerships will offer you a financing deal but, in many cases, you could get a better deal elsewhere. Many people make the mistake of taking the first deal that they are offered instead of shopping around. Before you accept any financing deal, go to your bank and see what they will offer you and look at independent lenders as well. It’s also important that you fix your credit score before taking out a finance deal, if possible. If your credit score is good, you will get a much better interest rate, so your monthly costs will be far lower.
Keep Up With Maintenance
Looking after your vehicle properly is the best way to cut the cost of owning one. If you don’t keep up with routine maintenance, like changing fluids and oil, the moving parts in the engine will be subject to a lot of wear and tear. Over time, this will cause serious problems that are very expensive to fix. Routine maintenance will also help you to tackle small issues that will only get worse if left alone. If you do notice anything out of the ordinary, you should always take your car to a mechanic right away because it will be cheaper to get it fixed right away instead of waiting for it to get worse.
Owning a car can be incredibly expensive, but these are all simple ways that you can slash those costs and make it a lot more manageable.
Staff Writer; Roy Carter