Purchasing a car in the US involves more than merely having the funds to make that happen; you have to consider other aspects such as maintenance, cost of gas and car insurance policies.
With these, you can see that car ownership goes beyond the purchase. That is why you have to be thorough with your budget when considering buying a car. At Lumina blog, you will find information on this issue and more.
However, the factors mentioned above may not seem detrimental to your finances at first until you have purchased your car. This is why you have to make research on things associated with owning a car, including the car services in the USA.
Let’s now take a critical look at the average cost of owning a car in the US.
· Regular Car Maintenance
Regular car maintenance is important if you want your car to last long. This can prevent your car from an emergency breakdown, incurring great costs. Thus, car maintenance involves essential activities such as acquiring new batteries, changing oil, replacing brake pads, and changing windshield wiper.
Through the AAA study, we realized that regular car maintenance could cost an average of $0.09 per mile. It will be best to include this cost in your monthly or annual budget to prevent unplanned spending.
· The average cost of owning a car
For a small car like a Sedan, the average cost of ownership is around $6,354. A pickup truck could cost as much as $10,054. Through the AAA study, we realized that regular car maintenance could cost an average of $0.09 per mile. This implies that if you drive around 10,000 miles annually, car maintenance will cost you around $900. If you drive double that distance, you will end up with about $1,800.
Now, if you don’t include this expense in your budget, your finances will be rocked. Nothing is more frustrating than spending money on what you never planned for.
Below are things you should consider revisiting when preparing your annual car maintenance budget:
1. Battery Change
You have to change your car’s battery to keep it in good working condition. This should be done on a three to five years basis. However, many factors can influence how often you need to change your car’s battery. Weather is a factor that can affect your car battery changing frequency. This activity usually costs between $60 and $200.
2. Oil Change
Oil should be changed regularly for the proper functioning of the car. It is advised that this activity should be done after riding for 5,000 to 7,500 miles. This marker is set for relatively new cars. Meanwhile, for old cars, the oil changing is done more often.
Aside from this, you should ensure your car oil is changed annually, even if you don’t drive that long. Oil change usually costs around $45. However, this price varies and depends on factors like the type of oil used.
3. Windshield Wiper Replacement
You need a well-functioning windshield wiper, especially on rainy days. That is why this needs to be changed. You can change your windshield wipers annually to keep them in good shape. This shouldn’t cost more than $85.
Conclusion
The average cost of owning a car in the US is quite high if you consider other factors such as car maintenance. However, it is important to consider all that in your budget. You can save costs by also carrying out some maintenance procedures by yourself.