How Richmond Drivers are Saving Money on Their Virginia Car Insurance, the Cost of Gas and Their Car’s Repair Bills

How Richmond Drivers are Saving Money on Their Virginia Car Insurance, the Cost of Gas and Their Car’s Repair Bills

It’s easy to forget that Richmond is the state capital when you call the city

streets home, but a quick look at the travel expenses that go along with living in one of the biggest cities in Virginia can disabuse you of the notion that Richmond is just like anywhere else in a hurry! Here’s a look at how Richmond drivers are saving money on their Virginia car insurance, the cost of gas and their car’s repair bills.

Sending Those Car Insurance Premiums Plummeting

Where you live (and how much traffic can be found on the city streets) is going to play a pretty big role in determining how gruesome your Virginia car insurance rates are going to be. Between the volume of traffic on Richmond’s streets, the fact that there’s a stop light every 100 yards or so and the convenience and efficiency of having I-95 and 295 right there to get you where you need to go you definitely have a better chance of being in an accident in Richmond than you would if you lived in, say, Pulaski or Colonial Beach.

To balance out the risk, Virginia car insurance companies send your car insurance rates climbing. Richmond residents are balancing out that cost by taking advantage of the Greater Richmond Transit System as often as possible, turbo-charging the security features on their car (which will make you feel better when you’re parked on the side of Broad Street after dark anyway), keeping their credit score in good shape, buying insurance friendly vehicles and updating their insurance policy regularly.

Cutting Down on the Cost of Gas

Virginia gas rates might be much, much cheaper than the Northern states, but that doesn’t mean you want to donate your entire paycheck to the money guzzling oil companies! Virginia provides a wonderful public transportation system to help you get around the city without having to spend the day behind the wheel of your car, and if your feet are up to the challenge you can walk or bike just about anywhere in the city during the daytime.

For tips on how to save money on the highway, visit FuelEconomy.gov and ConsumerReports.org.

When you do have to drive use the strategies outlined by researchers designed to improve your highway gas mileage, and try and drive as often as possible without your air conditioning system blasting. Yes, Richmond summers are miserable. Yes, the heat and humidity can send you clamoring for that AC switch the minute you slip behind the wheel. It’s hard to work up enough speed to get the wind flowing in your hair when you’re driving down Cary or Broad, but if you’re going to be traveling on I-95 or Powhite Parkway try rolling the windows down every once in a while. Your gas tank will thank you.

Save on Your Car’s Repair Bills

Unfortunately, no one’s come up with a good Virginia car insurance policy that will help cover the cost of your car’s repair bills! Commuters (and Richmond’s got plenty of ‘em) put a lot of wear and tear on their car courtesy of the amount of time they spend on the highway.

The key word here is maintenance.

Car repairs can cost you a fortune, but keeping up with your car’s maintenance can dramatically decrease the amount of money you have to shell out each year to put things back together after they break. Keep your tires properly inflated, your oil changed, your fluids topped off and your brake pads in good condition. (If you’ve ever had to replace your car’s rotors you don’t need that one explained!) Have your alignment checked and your belts replaced regularly, and don’t forget to replace your timing belt at regular intervals.

Between VCU/MCV and the fact that it’s the state capital living in Richmond isn’t always cheap, but when you follow these easy tips you can save on your Virginia car insurance and your other travel related expenses are put your money toward doing something that’s matters more to you than spending another hour on I-95.

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