RACC encourages members to save money

Publication date: 21 January 2009

With the world facing a global economic crisis, the Royal Automobile Club of Catalunya (RACC) has launched a campaign to advise its members on 50 money-saving tips related to driving.

RACC devoted several pages in its club magazine to promote this initiative. The tips are broken up by themes – including maintenance, insurance and ecodriving – each examining a number of ways motorists can adjust their vehicle care and driving habits to save money.

Maintenance tips include points on making sure tyre pressures are correct and ensuring repairs are carried out when recommended. This section also exposes some myths, such as the need for performance fuels, which are not economically worthwhile.

Insurance tips include the optimal time to move to third party insurance, how to best play the tax system, and when to take advantage of discounts. RACC encourages good drivers to opt for insurance plans with deductibles, allowing for a reduction in the overall premium that saves much more money in the long run.

Also highlighted are various ecodriving tips that can lead to savings by simply adjusting driving style, optimising car weights and taking advantage of sensible aerodynamics. The RACC demonstrates the effectiveness of each of these factors with statistics showing a combined 15 per cent savings in consumption, and thus cost, as a result of these simple ecodriving measures.

Finally, the guide looks at what should be done before a car is purchased, noting the recent downward trend in prices, but also pointing consumers towards tax breaks for purchasing cleaner vehicles and free guarantees available with new cars.