If you’ve had your driver’s license for a while and owned a few cars in your time, you’ll know there are certain costs you must always bear. The primary examples include insurance, fuel, and maintenance.
Some might say that certain vehicle repairs count as “unexpected” car bills. But, there are plenty of unexpected car bills that will sometimes catch you out. And, on some occasions, you might find that those costs are a tough pill to swallow.
What are those unexpected car bills, and is there a way to either avoid them or lessen the financial burden on yourself? Here’s what you need to know:
1. Traffic violations
Every person who holds a valid driver’s license knows about the rules they must follow. The thing is, that’s easier said than done in reality. Often, many motorists end up breaking the law accidentally.
For instance, they might veer into a lane that’s only designated for certain types of vehicles, such as carpoolers or trucks. Or they might unknowingly break the speed limit because they missed a sign when driving in an unfamiliar area.
The answer to avoiding traffic violations is to be 100% focused on your surroundings at all times. But if you get caught doing something you shouldn’t, services like GetDismissed in CA can help you fight your case.
2. Blowouts
Let’s face it: the last thing anyone wants on their journey is to experience a tire blowout. Sadly, it’s something that happens to thousands of people across the country every day! One of the downsides of owning a car is that tires can cost a lot of money.
For example, if you own a sports car that has large wheels on it, you’d generally have to pay for expensive low-profile tires. So, how can you avoid having blowouts on the road? One thing you should do is check the condition of your tires before each journey.
All you need to do is quickly walk around your car and look for telltale signs that your tires might be faulty. These are things like bulges or cracks in the sidewalls, uneven or complete wear on the surface, and low tire pressure.
With some issues like slow leaks, you can get your tires repaired quite cheaply and avoid having a blowout. Otherwise, you could end up needing to buy a new tire at a great expense.
3. Accidents
It doesn’t matter if you’re the world’s safest driver. There will be times where you can’t avoid colliding with other road users if they’re not paying attention to their driving. Or they might be under the influence of alcohol or drugs (or both)!
There isn’t a magic formula for avoiding car accidents. But, what you can do is ensure that you’ve got video evidence of events leading up to a collision. The best way you can do that, of course, is by having a dashcam recording your journeys.
Take a look at sites like The Dashcam Store to learn more about the products you could install in your car. They are inexpensive and can potentially save you from ending up with a tarnished insurance record because of a no-fault claim.
