Summer driving is the best! You won’t have to worry about wintery conditions, and as long as your air conditioning is working properly, you can ride in comfort and take in the beautiful scenery across the U.S.
If you’re thinking about taking a road trip this summer or even just driving around town, you should start putting some effort into making sure your vehicle is ready for the road. And while you’re at it, you can also put some effort into saving as much as you can on fuel and insurance for the summer.
Get Your Car Ready for Summer
If you want to escape the heat of summer, you’re going to have to take care of your car so you don’t end up stranded on the side of a blazing hot road.
Tip #1 – Tune up Your Car
If you want to make sure you have air conditioning this summer, you’d better schedule a tune-up. Not only do you need A/C so you can keep your cool, but you also need to make sure your brakes are functioning correctly, your oil is changed, and your fluids are topped off.
Tip #2 – Check Your Tires
You’ll want to inspect your tires for tread wear. The standard measure is to put a penny in your tread, and if the treads cover part of Lincoln’s head, you’re good to go. But there’s more to tire safety than that. Ensure you keep up on tire rotations so the people providing that service can check your tires for even wear.
Another critical thing to check on your tires is the air pressure. They’ll last longer and wear more evenly if they’re inflated to manufacturer specs.
Tip #3 – Replace Your Wiper Blades if Necessary
Even though winter weather isn’t a worry during the summer, rainstorms are. If you don’t have functioning wiper blades, you’ll compromise safety when you drive in adverse conditions.
Save on Fuel This Summer Driving
With fuel prices higher than ever, saving money is even more crucial than before.
Tip #4 – Fill Your Tires
We already mentioned tires for safety reasons, but did you realize that adequately filled tires will help your fuel economy? It’s true.
Tip #5 – Get a Gas App
Gas apps help you find the cheapest gas along your route, and some even offer cashback on fuel from specified locations. You simply claim your offer and fill up after checking in on the app.
Tip #6 – Slow Down to Conserve Fuel
Most people don’t need to be told to speed up, but if you drive slower than your car’s sweet spot, increasing your speed will help you save fuel. Most people, though, drive faster than their car’s ideal fuel consumption speed. The most efficient speed is between 50 and 60 mph for most cars.
Save on Insurance This Summer
There are several ways to save on your necessary insurance costs, and the following tips are just a few of them.
Tip #7 – Review Your Coverage Needs
If you don’t drive much during the rest of the year but do a lot of driving during the summer, you might want to beef up your coverage during the summer driving months. You can add to your coverage at any time and then switch back to the levels you had before.
Conversely, you might decide you have too much coverage and drop some coverage to save money.
Tip #8 – Increase Your Deductible
Higher deductibles equal lower premiums. So if you’re able to set money aside for a potential car insurance claim, you can raise your deductible and save all summer long.
Tip #9 – Review Discounts
If you haven’t reviewed car insurance discounts for a while, it’s time to see if you’re eligible for any that you’re not currently receiving. Discounts can help you save 30% or more on car insurance, so it’s worth putting in some effort to maximize your savings.
So whether you’re planning a trip to the beach or the classic car show, with these nine driving tips, you’ll be set to enjoy a summer driving of travel in comfort while saving money.
Melanie Musson writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. She’s passionate about helping others understand the importance of insurance and its role in financial planning.
