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It’s common knowledge that driving a car can set you back a few quid due to things like PCP payments and the cost of MOTs and servicing. Not to mention the soaring price of petrol these days. However, what you may not release is that there are some costs for which you may not actually need to pay out. Read on to find out what they are, and how to avoid them.
Paying too much for your car insurance
One of the biggest ways that you can run into unnecessary costs with your vehicle is by choosing the wrong type of insurance. That is why you must balance the monthly cost with the coverage you are provided.
For example, insurance with a low monthly cost may not cover you for all eventualities, and so if an accident does happen, you will be left paying for repairs and compensation out of your own pocket.
However, you can also end up paying too much on your monthly amount, especially if your policy covers you for very unlikely incidents. To that end, carefully considering the coverage compared to the value of your car insurance is crucial.
Ignoring a NIP
A NIP or Notice of Intended Prosecution is a notification that you can receive from the DVLA if your vehicle has been involved in a traffic offence. Unfortunately, because of the way that NIPs work you will only have 28 days to comply with this notice, and that is the case even if you have changed addresses because a NIP is regarded as served 2 days after it was posted regardless of whether it reaches you or not.
Indeed, it is because of these strict rules, as well as some confusion as to what action needs to be taken over a NIP that can cost those involved a great deal of money, both in fines and in some cases, court cases that precede them.
Fortunately, you can avoid such unnecessary costs by making sure that you comply with the Notice of Intended Prosecution. You may even prefer to consult a legal professional to guide you through doing this, saving you both stress and money in the long run.
Not taking care of your car’s bodywork
Even with all the fancy paints and sealants that they add to cars these days, bodywork rust is still a significant issue. Indeed, if your vehicle’s bodywork begins to rust it can end up costing you a great deal of money. This is because if it gets bad enough, it can’t just be repaired, instead, the entire panel where the rust is showing needs to be replaced.
With that in mind, keeping an eye out for any of the initial signs of rust is vital. These usually happen at the base of a panel or around the seals of a door. Also be sure to pay special attention to these areas when cleaning your car, and treat them with an additional sealant that will keep the rust at bay for as long as possible.
