RECENT figures from the RAC reveal that the cost of motoring has increased by an average of £539 in the past year.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists report has a new checklist of tips to help tackle the worst excesses of depreciation.
Depreciation is the biggest single motoring expense, accounting for £2,420 on average in 2006 - a 22 per cent increase over last year's figure (£1,987).
Like ageing, there is only so much you can do to prevent the visible excesses of depreciation - but these tips could mean a slighter softer landing when the time comes to change your car.
1. Avoid all crashes (great and small). Nothing puts off a would-be buyer like damaged bodywork. Even minor crashes, the bumps and scrapes that reduce the car's value so visibly, are expensive. Consider an advanced driving course. More than 90 per cent of crashes are a direct result of driver error.
2. Don't buy new. The worst depreciation "hit" is within the first few days when you drive out of the showroom. If you are prepared to buy a car that is already a year old, has had its first dealer service but is still covered by a warranty, you are on the road to making a major saving.
3. No chips, please. Following a gritter lorry too closely will do little for the car's bodywork. Wheels should not be scuffed and tar marks need to be removed promptly, as do bird droppings.
4. A clean car is a safe car. Buyers love a clean machine and the easiest way to keep it sparkling is to regularly wash it. Good clean mirrors (internal and external) make driving less tiring, as do windscreens (front and rear)
5. Be mean with your mileage. Short journeys are the most polluting and cause a disproportionate wear and tear on the engine.
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