10 easy ways to save hundreds on motoring

Running a car isn’t just about petrol and the odd car wash. It’s MOTs. Servicing. Tyres. Brakes. That warning light that always seems to appear the week before payday.

Most of us accept it’s expensive. What we don’t realise? We’re probably overpaying.

From little-known discounts to five-minute driveway checks, there are easy ways to cut your motoring bills without cutting corners. Here’s how to keep more of your money where it belongs.

Start with your MOT and don’t just accept the first price

Too many drivers book their MOT wherever they bought the car. That can be the priciest option.

Council-run MOT centres are often among the cheapest because they only carry out the test. They don’t do repairs, so there’s no incentive to add extra work. In some areas, tests cost as little as £20 to £30.

If there isn’t one near you, comparison sites like BookMyGarage and Servicing Stop let you see prices in seconds. Main dealers can charge significantly more for exactly the same legal test.

A quick search could knock £50 off your bill. And remember, the maximum a garage can charge for an MOT on a car is £54.85. And you do not pay VAT on this fee.

Double up and save

Here’s something garages don’t always advertise. Book your MOT and service together and you’ll often pay less.

Many reduce the MOT fee when it’s combined with a service, sometimes by up to half. And if your car fails, retests within 10 working days are usually free or heavily discounted. That’s another £15 to £20 saved just by planning ahead.

Skip the dealership

Franchised dealers tend to charge more for labour and parts. Independent garages are, on average, noticeably cheaper - often around 18% less.

There’s also a growing number of community and social enterprise garages, such as Community Motors CIC, which combine transparent pricing with apprentice training. Local colleges often run similar workshops. You can usually find out about this on local college websites or Facebook groups.

Same work. Smaller invoice.

Just ask for a discount

It feels awkward. But it works.

Many garages quietly offer discounts for pensioners, NHS staff, emergency service workers and other public sector employees. Savings of 10% to 20% on tyres, brakes or servicing aren’t unusual.

Garages don’t always promote it. You simply have to ask.

Five minutes that could stop an MOT fail

Nearly one in five MOT failures come down to simple issues that could have been spotted at home.

Before your test, take a slow walk around the car. Check your lights are working. Make sure your wipers clear the windscreen properly. Look at your tyre tread. Top up your screenwash. Test the horn. Adjust your mirrors.

The guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency explains exactly what’s checked. A few minutes on your driveway could save you a retest fee and the inconvenience of being without your car.

Your tyres are costing you more than you think

Underinflated tyres don’t just wear out faster. They burn more fuel.

Even a small drop in pressure can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 5%. Over a year, that can mean tens - sometimes hundreds - of pounds lost for no good reason. And replacing a worn tyre can cost £50 to £100 each.

Most petrol stations and supermarkets have air pumps. It takes two minutes. The savings last all year.

Ease off the accelerator

How you drive matters more than you think.

Rapid acceleration, heavy braking and carrying unnecessary weight all increase fuel consumption. Driving smoothly and clearing clutter from the boot can improve fuel economy by up to 15%. For higher-mileage drivers, that could mean £200 to £300 back in their pocket annually.

It’s not about crawling along. It’s about being steady.

You don’t always have to buy parts from the garage

When repairs are needed, garages often add a markup to parts.

Some will fit parts you’ve bought yourself, provided they’re correct and suitable. Retailers such as Euro Car Parts and chains like Kwik Fit regularly run promotions on items like brake pads, filters and wiper blades. Buying directly can be significantly cheaper.

It won’t suit every job. But for straightforward replacements, it can make a noticeable difference.

Sign up before you pay

Promotions on tyres, brakes and servicing run throughout the year.

Loyalty schemes from companies such as Halfords Autocentres offer vouchers, discounts or points towards future work. Signing up takes moments. The benefits can roll on for months.

If you’re spending the money anyway, you might as well collect the perks.

Don’t let one big bill wreck your budget

It’s the unexpected repair that hurts most. A clutch. Suspension problems. A failed alternator.

Paying upfront can wipe out savings. That’s why some garages offer service plans or interest-free options like Payment Assist, allowing you to spread the cost over several months.

Used carefully, it can be far cheaper than turning to high-interest credit.