That’s what TIC (Travelers Insurance Company) did in 1898 when it insured Truman Martin‘s car providing him with a coverage in the value of $500 and initiating the era of auto insurance.

Even though the first car insurance was actually meant to secure Truman’s car from damage caused by horses rather than cars, twenty years later when transport facilities flooded big cities and required the invention of highway regulations, auto insurance was finally supposed to compensate losses caused by collision with other vehicles. That’s when car owners were required to buy mandatory insurance coverage for the first time which little by little brought about some considerable changes in legal, economical and political systems in all the states of the U.S.

Auto insurance companies started spreading fast all over the United States and European countries as that new kind of business kept on growing at a blinding performance pace in the first half of the century. However car insurance was developing by fits and starts during all 20th century because in those days, as today, it was quite dependant of the condition and development of the car market itself in each country. Thus, every stationary period in automobile industry was followed by a material setback in auto insurance business. As soon as the car market experienced another sales slump, there were no clients to buy car insurance policies.

In fact that mechanism proved to be true not so long ago when high gas prices affected car industry and auto insurance business at the same time. However the relative stabilization of gas prices which we’ve witnessed recently is favorable for most auto insurance companies. This makes us believe that the period of decline in auto insurance development should be over by now.

Tip #1. Be smart when you choose a car.

The first step one can ever take to cut down money expenses for gas from the very start is to buy a car which consumes less fuel than other brands. Some cars with a low-powered engine burn less gas and are quite suitable for living in a city. You might also consider buying a green car most of which were designed to preserve the environment by burning less fuel.

Tip #2. More haste, less speed

Driving at a lower speed will definitely lower your gas consumption. Every time you accelerate you spend more money. Air resistance lowers the speed of your car and works as a barrier that makes the engine spend more gas to reach the desired speed. Using a cruise control will help you maintain the speed.

Tip #3. Any gas would do.

There is a common misconception which makes people believe that using premium-priced gas will make their cars perform better on road. However the majority of cars were built to consume any regular gas. So, there is no difference which type of gas you use, except that you do pay more for the premium-priced one.

Tip #4. Don’t waste gas if you stop your car.

Kill the engine each time you bring your car to a stop somewhere for more than half a minute. Just imagine how much gas you could burn while standing at one spot with your engine on for a minute, and what a long distance you could have overcome within that period of time.

Tip #5. Take care of your car.

It goes without saying that an unattended car with a clogged air filter and no tunes-up for several months will consume more fuel that a car with all parts functioning normally. So, check and tune up your car every month to make sure it runs well. Even such a simple thing as inflating your tires regularly can reduce gas consumption.

Tip #6. Carry fewer things.

Take less heavy things in your car because each additional pound requires more gas to be spent to carry it. Even the weight of your gas tank matters. That’s why it’s recommended to keep your gas tank between half and empty most of the times.

Tip #7. Find good deals.

Some big supermarkets, fuel station and retail warehouse clubs offer better deals on gas for those who pay their special membership fee. It’s useful for people who can go to their stations and refill their tanks regularly, thus the membership will be money’s-worth.

Tip #8. Help your friends and let them help you.

Those who live in the same area with their coworkers can use it to their advantage. Your friends and you can take turns to drive each other to work. Carpooling has become quite popular lately and many people prefer it not only because it lets them save money on gas. They enjoy it because it is better to go to work with a friend instead of going there alone.

Tip #1. Buy a newer car.

Does it sound rather vague to you? Some new cars from a manufacturer can last for years without any repairs. It mostly depends on your driving habits indeed. Once you have a new car you can forget your mechanic’s address for a while even though regular maintenance is still required. But if you already have an old car… well, see below.

Tip #2. Get good auto insurance.

Good car insurance is the best way to save on car maintenance when it comes to breakages and failures. Try to do some research and find such car insurance which best fits your needs. When you get car insurance with a low deductible payment it will help you reduce your technical maintenance expenses considerably. If you already have auto insurance with a high deductible… hm, continue reading.

Tip #3. Do it on your own.

In case you have a mechanical breakdown, try to fix it by yourself. There are many online support services that can help you check your car and discover the fault. If you still need to take it to a repair service keep in mind that they get new car parts to change the broken ones with a high markup. Thus in some cases buying spare parts by yourself (if you know exactly what you need) will help you reduce the expenses by 4 times! Just shop around and look for better offers online.

Tip #4. Prevention is better than cure.

You can save money and prolong your car’s working capacity if you take some preventive measures. By changing oil, charging batteries in time as well as doing total check-up of your car once a month, you can help your vehicle last longer.

Tip #5. Use your car wisely.

You’ll be surprised how much you can save if you give some thought to the ways you use your car. One should stop the engine at red traffic lights and in the jams.

Tip #6. Maintain your speed level.

From my own experience I can say that when I speed up and pull up fast, it does good neither to my brakes nor my fuel economy. One should stick to some certain speed level. That way one can achieve the lowest fuel rate and save the brake pads from wearing out. Using deceleration technique to make your car come to a halt is better than applying the brake.

Tip #7. Check your tires.

Partially deflated tires do not help save money at all. First of all if there isn’t enough air in the tires they can wear out faster. Secondly underinflation increases fuel rate by 4-6% which makes you spend more fuel than usual. You can read technical characteristics and check the best tire inflation pressure for your car.

Tip #8. New spark plugs every once in a while.

Statistics show that changing old spark plugs in time cuts fuel costs down by 25-35%. Moreover new spark plugs also help improve car’s performance and capacity.

Tip #9. Wash it in time.

At first blush one could say that washing doesn’t reduce maintenance costs at all. However cleaning your car in time will help you prevent if from corrosion which is caused by accumulation of mud and dust that stay wet and stimulate corrosive wear.

Tip #10. Read the manual.

When you know your car as the back of your hand you are definitely aware of what it needs, when its engine has to be tuned-up or what oil it’s better to use. It’s always helpful to read the owner’s manual and look under the hood once in a while.