Personal Finance in Your 20s & 30s For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Chapter 19

Ten Ways to Save on a Car

IN THIS CHAPTER

Understanding the smart ways to buy a car

Comparing different cars’ costs

Servicing, insuring, and taking tax deductions for your car

I remember my first car and appreciate the flexibility and joy that having that car provided me. My first car was a generously sized Ford LTD that was effectively a hand-me-down. No longer able to drive, my elderly grandfather had given the car to my parents. After a couple years of additional use, my folks then passed the car along to me when I got my first job and was working in Boston. I didn’t have much free time or need to use the car during the workweek, but I was grateful to have it for weekend trips.

In some respects, it was an ideal first car because it was solid and reliable but not overly valuable. It probably didn’t get great gas mileage, but I appreciated its safety when a car (a compact) rear-ended my car and barely left a scratch (although the front end of the bad driver’s car was totaled).

In this chapter, I highlight some tips and strategies for making the most of your car-driving experiences and doing so in a financially prudent fashion. For more information on other transportation ...