Next to homes, automobiles are typically the most expensive asset a family will own.  Here are 25 tips that you can use to help keep costs in check and make the most of your car ownership experience:

1. Consider The Full Cost of Vehicle Ownership – The cost of a car is much more than just the sticker price on the window.  When shopping, consider all of the factors that will come into play so you can get a true feel for how much a given car will cost to run.  These factors include: purchase price, depreciation, cost of insurance, fuel, and maintenance costs.  Kiplinger typically compiles and publishes a list of the best car values on an annual basis.
2. Buy Used – Automobiles tend to lose value over time; and most of that depreciation occurs during the first three to five years.  Let someone else pay for the cost of that depreciation by buying gently used, low mileage vehicles.
3. Check Comps on Used Cars – When shopping for used cars, check around to see what comparable cars cost.  Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds  both provide data on used car prices.  However, I’ve found that their prices tend to be low and may not accurately reflect regional differences in demand.  As a sanity check, I recommend also checking sale listings on sites such as cars.com, LemonFree or AutoTrader to get additional data to help you determine pricing.
4. Bargain Hard – When buying new, bear in mind that cars are commodities:  multiple car dealers are essentially offering the same product.  Use this to your advantage by price shopping nearby dealerships to determine who will offer you the best price.  When buying used, look for other used cars of similar condition, age and mileage to help provide you with leverage during negotiation.
5. Pay cash for cars, when possible – Taking a loan out to buy a car is somewhat akin to paying twice for the vehicle.  First, you suffer from the expense of depreciation, but with a loan, you’re also paying interest.  Do yourself a favor and pay cash, or put down a large down payment and then take out a loan for the remainder with the shortest term possible.
6. Drive Your Car Into the Ground – As I’ve mentioned previously, keeping a car a long time can be a very wise choice.  By stretching out the duration of your ownership, you drive down the monthly cost of depreciation.  In the end, keeping a car for 10 years or longer can help you saving thousands over purchasing automobiles more frequently.
7. Find a good mechanic – A good, independent mechanic can be worth their weight in gold.  Not only do they tend to be less expensive than dealers, but they can often steer you away from unneeded repairs.  The folks at Car Talk maintain database of mechanic reviews that can be quite useful.
8. Have a trusted mechanic look over the car – When buying a used car, have your mechanic look over the car before you buy it.  They can help steer you away from a poor buying decision and can advise you on maintenance that may be needed in the future.
9. Slow Down – When driving, you can save fuel simply by driving more slowly.  For example, slowing down from 75 to 65 can save, on average, 12 percent on gas.
10. Don’t Accelerate or Brake Quickly – Speeding up quickly and braking hard is not only hard on your vehicle, but it can use up fuel quickly as well.  In a test performed by Edmunds, they found that driving less aggressively saved, on average, 31% on fuel costs.
11. Get Rid of Unneeded Weight and Drag  - According to the guys at Car Talk, items that reduce your aerodynamic efficiency, like roof racks, can drop your fuel efficiency by 5 percent. If you're not using your roof rack, take it off. Also, each additional 100 pounds of weight will reduce your economy by 1 to 2 percent. So, if you've got unneeded stuff in your trunk or in the back of your pickup, get rid of it.
12. Avoid Driving During Rush Hour – Driving through stop and go traffic is highly inefficient.  If possible, time your trips so that you can avoid the traffic.
13. Share a Ride – If your commute is long, splitting the cost with someone can provide significant cost savings.
14. Leverage Public Transportation – Like sharing a ride, this isn’t a radical idea.  However, if public transportation is convenient, it can potentially save you a good deal of money and stress from not having to make the drive.
15. Telecommute – If your work situation allows it, ask whether you can work from home a day or more per week. Not only will you save money and fuel, but you can also skip shaving.
16. Minimize Idling – Idling is the equivalent of getting zero miles per gallon.  If you are going to be stationary for a minute or more, shut the engine off.
17. Use Higher Gears - Using the highest gear possible for a given speed will save you gas, as the engine turns more slowly at a given speed than if you were to use a lower gear. So, if you have a manual transmission, shift more quickly and work your way up the gears. As long as you have got torque to continue accelerating -- and as long as the engine isn't shuddering or pinging -- you will be fine.
18. Don’t Top Off Your Tank – It may be tempting to “top off your tank” by adding more fuel once the pump has cut off, but doing so may cause waste; and it really doesn’t do much good.
19. Stay On Top of Maintenance - Regular service can identify problems than can reduce the efficiency of your car. Items like sticky brake calipers, low transmission fluid and broken thermostats can reduce your car's ability to use gas efficiently. In addition, routine service can help rectify issues that may put your safety at risk.
20. Maintain Proper Tire Inflation – Under-inflated or over-inflated tires are not only a safety risk, but they can also impact your gas mileage.  Periodically check your tires to ensure proper inflation.
21. Keep Your Tires Aligned – Tires that are out of alignment can wear out prematurely and can also impact proper handling of the car.
22. Clean Your Vehicles At Home – For some folks, nothing is more enjoyable than cleaning your car.  For proof, visit a local Concourse Competition where car owners compete to see who has the best detailed car.  For the rest of us, though, a garden hose and a few rudimentary car cleaning tools can be less expensive than visit your local “wash-o-matic” car wash.
23. Group Errands – If you have to make a trip to run an errand, stop to consider if there are other things that you need while you’re in the area.  And if it makes sense, check Google Maps or a similar mapping tool to ensure you’re taking the best route.
24. Avoid Drive-Through Windows – Similar to my tip on idling, waiting at drive-thrus wastes gas.  If you have to do so, then consider stopping the engine.  Better yet, park and go inside.
25. Check Gas Prices Online - Before you fuel your vehicle, take a quick look at GasBuddy.com or the Gas Prices page at MSN Autos for the best price on gas in your local area.

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