The content of the article:
- Why is it more expensive to own a car in Russia?
- The main factors affecting the cost of car maintenance
- How to lower your owning costs
Sometimes buying a car is not as scary as maintaining it. Spending on car maintenance, insurance policies, fuel, loan repayments and much more can take a toll on your budget. After all, even if you are able to pay for the purchase of a car, it is worth wondering if you can afford to maintain it.
Why is it more expensive to own a car in Russia?
Compared to many other countries, the cost of car maintenance in Russia is much higher. According to a 2013 study by PwC, the cost of a mid-range car in Russia exceeded the cost of a similar vehicle in the United States by 36%. But in this case, one should compare not so much the costs as such, but rather their ratio with the average earnings of the owners. In most cases, the blow to the domestic wallet will be much stronger, even if the costs are equalized. And the initial cost of cars in the United States and many European countries is lower.
It should also be noted that transport tax is not always levied on car owners - in many countries it is included in the price of fuel. And this approach is more logical, because a car that makes circles around the city 8 hours a day and a car that is idle for most of the day in the parking lot are completely different things in terms of damaging the road or the environment.
But the main problem of domestic reality is the desire (or need) to save money. And savings lead to premature wear and tear of mechanisms, costly repairs, and a decrease in the total cost of the car.
The reasons are trivial - refueling with fuel of dubious origin, servicing in even more dubious (but cheap) workshops, buying fake or used spare parts, etc. And the quality of Russian roads does not in the best way affect the condition of the car. And all this comes at a price.
The main factors affecting the cost of car maintenance
Even if we discard the expenses provoked by the owner himself, the maintenance of the car for several years can equal its original cost. And it's not just about used cars. In any case, the operating costs are impressive.
What you have to pay for:
Operation intensity
Mileage is the main money-eater. Fuel, wear of the engine system, suspension and other mechanisms, breakdowns as a result of loads, the need to frequently change tires - all this directly depends on the odometer reading. Not to mention the fact that if you want to sell a car, its price will decrease with the same constancy with which the mileage will grow.
Operating conditions
It is one thing if a car drives mainly on highways, and quite another thing when it has to twitch in city traffic jams, slow down in front of numerous "zebras" and traffic lights, hit the curbs during parking.
You should also take into account driving on off-road or gravel roads, where falling into a puddle or breaking glass with a flying stone is more a rule than an exception.
Driving style
The car of a calm experienced driver will last much longer and its maintenance will be less expensive than that of a “traffic light Schumacher” and an amateur to get under way so that it smells of rubber.
Attitude to the car
This includes more than gentle driving. Regular diagnostics, repairs, quality spare parts and a good workshop are the key to long-term and relatively cheap maintenance.
Of course, you will have to pay for all this, but it is hardly more expensive than for an overhaul of the engine, the need for which arose as a result of inattention to the car.
Insurance
OSAGO
Compulsory insurance, and you will have to buy a policy. The cost of OSAGO depends on numerous factors: driving experience, region of residence, driving accident rate, etc.
If you buy a used car, you will have to undergo a technical inspection, since it will not work to insure a car without a preliminary technical inspection. And this is also an additional, albeit small, expense.
CASCO
The cost is calculated individually and depends on the brand, model and other characteristics of the car. The price of the policy can sometimes reach up to 15% of the value of the car. However, it usually ranges from 5% to 10%.
This type of insurance is optional, but when buying a new car on credit, a CASCO is required. The main reason is the high percentage of new car thefts. Also, this type of insurance is desirable if the car is expensive. In the event of a theft, an accident and other troubles in the form of an expensive CASCO repair, it will come in handy.
DSAGO
Voluntary insurance. Not required, but in some cases necessary. For example, for young inexperienced drivers.
Credit
No matter how favorable the conditions for issuing a loan are for us, we will have to pay both it and interest. And for several years. This should be taken into account along with the rest of the costs when choosing a car and its cost.
Registration with the traffic police and purchase of a license plate
Let the amount be small and one-time (you will have to pay about 2,000 rubles for everything), but still. If you buy a used car, you can keep the old numbers if they are in good condition.
Inspection
The cost of the procedure is about 500 rubles. An old car requires an annual inspection. When buying a new one, the first inspection is carried out after 3 years, the second - after another 2 years, and then annually.
Regular maintenance
Its cost has a huge run-up, from about $ 100 to $ 1000. It all depends on the make and model of the car, its characteristics and the dealer's appetite. And the frequency of maintenance will depend on the characteristics of operation - mileage, service conditions and their effect on the car, etc.
Transport tax
The run-up in cost is also colossal - from 1–2 thousand rubles to 50 thousand, or even higher. The amount is influenced by the place of registration (each region is authorized to establish its own rules for levying transport tax), the model and characteristics of the car, etc.
It should also be noted that the so-called luxury tax, which is imposed on the owners of expensive cars, may be added to the principal amount. The list of luxury car models is approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Therefore, before buying, you should clarify whether the vending car belongs to the category of so expensive that you will have to pay extra for it.
Optional equipment
The car will have to be equipped in accordance with your requirements. By the way, you can save on this by buying a used car, since the previous owner, most likely, equipped the car with everything you need. And unlike the factory configuration, there are only really necessary "accessories".
The cost of a new car equipment inflates significantly for the wallet. For this reason, many motorists prefer to purchase cars with a minimum set of "accessories" and install the necessary (and really necessary, and not for the sake of "fancy") equipment on their own. And this is a pretty impressive item of expenditure.
Operating costs
Here the car owner will face regular and considerable expenses, especially for old or "killed" cars during operation.
This category of costs includes:
- fuel;
- tires (summer, winter, replacement of worn out plus payment for tire fitting services);
- diagnostics and repair.
Secondary expenses
They should not be discounted as they add up to a lot of money. These include:
- washing;
- payment for parking,
- toll road costs;
- tuning;
- interior cleaning;
- fines, etc.
Unexpected expenses
These include:
- accidents (even insurance, if any, does not always fully cover the cost of recovery);
- serious damage caused by external factors, such as a flooded engine;
- breakdown in case of refueling with low-quality fuel (this happens more often than it seems);
- fire in the cabin due to oversight or malfunction, etc.
How to reduce the cost of car ownership
With the right approach, it is possible to save money not only on the purchase, but also on the maintenance of the car. At the same time, there is no need to bring the situation to fanaticism and tremble over every penny - it is quite possible to reduce costs. What is needed for this?
Buy a simple and cheap car to maintain
The most expensive to operate are BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Volvo, some Nissan models, etc. Of course, they differ in quality and prestige, but if you are not a bandit or a politician, then it is quite possible to get by with a simpler option.
Most of the unpretentious cheap-to-use models are from Toyota, you can also look for suitable options from Nissan, Kia, Honda.
Buy a car for specific requests
If you go out of town once every five years and use your car only for commuting and shopping, then it’s stupid to get an SUV, which will require much more costs than an ordinary passenger car. But an avid hunter and fisherman will quickly "kill" a low-power passenger car and spend much more on its restoration than on the maintenance of an SUV.
Do not save
No matter how paradoxical it may sound, in order to save on the maintenance of a car, you should not save.
Cheap fuel, low-quality and second-hand spare parts, dubious workshops and “inexpensively taking” professionals in a state of alcoholic intoxication - such savings will only lead to serious breakdowns and expensive repairs.
This does not mean that you cannot buy a used part or use the services of a mechanic with moderate requests. But it is worth approaching the choice with the utmost care, checking and rechecking the characteristics, reviews and reputation of the workshop or store.
Drive carefully
A common truth that for some reason most of the drivers ignore.
A careful, smooth ride saves fuel, reduces wear on the mechanical part of the car and avoids many breakdowns, not to mention the risk of an accident.
Also, for drivers who have traveled for a year without accidents, the cost of OSAGO is reduced. For several years of trouble-free driving, the cost of the policy will become much cheaper.
Monitor the condition of the vehicle
It is more profitable to pay for diagnostics and replace a failed part than to wait until the engine has to be repaired thoroughly. Moreover, it is possible to track the condition of the car on your own, having acquired a diagnostic on-board computer or a similar device.
Replace parts and repair yourself
No, it's not worth climbing where it is difficult for a master to cope. But even an inexperienced driver can replace a light bulb or spark plugs.
Monitor the condition of your tires
For some reason, tires are often ignored by car owners. But low or, conversely, too high tire pressure not only leads to premature tire wear, but also increases fuel consumption. This is especially noticeable at low pressure.
Use the navigator
A navigator or a special application for a mobile device will help save not only fuel, but also time, paving the way along the shortest and most convenient route. Plus, with the help of technology, you can track traffic jams, and this will also save your nerves.
Conclusion
With the purchase of a car, spending is just beginning. Therefore, before buying a car, you should calculate the possible costs and compare them with your personal or family budget.
To most accurately find out how much a car will cost, you should calculate for a specific model the fuel consumption, the cost of insurance (the calculator is on the companies' websites), find out how much the dealer's maintenance will cost and the transport tax for a specific car and region.
This is a boring process, but it is necessary in order not to be the owner of an expensive toy that destroys all funds.
