12 car hacks that could save you money and time!

Our car is so important to those of us who have one – we become attached to it so when anything happens to it, we become instantly annoyed and upset. Cars cost a lot of money to fix, not to mention all the accessories and other things you need to make the ride more comfortable. We’ve searched around for awesome car tips and hacks and have found 12 of the best!

1. Car mirrors

We’ve all been told that we need to have a bit of our car visible in both of our side mirrors, but did you know that’s a load of hogwash? All you need to do next time you’re in the car is move your mirrors so the side of your car is just unseen. This will help you so much so that you won’t need blind spot mirrors and you could save yourself from having a crash because you didn’t see a car.

This diagram explains further:

Photo source: caranddriver.com

2. Dirty headlights

Headlights build up a lot of dirt and grime, but did you know that they can be cleaned simply with toothpaste? Put a bit of non-gel paste on an old brush and get scrubbing! Wipe off with a damp cloth and polish.

3. Tough registration sticker

One year I had to use a paint scraper to get off my rego sticker, but I didn’t know this trick: place warm, wet newspaper over the sticker and leave for ten minutes. It should come off easily.

4. Halve a pool noodle

It’s no less annoying when you scratch your door than if someone else does it. If you keep scratching your door in your garage, simply cut a pool noodle in half lengthways and screw into your garage walls like so:

5. Remember your car park

If you forget where you park all the time, simply take a photo of the area and level markers. Flip through your photos when it’s time to go home.

6. Tennis ball marker

If you have a car with a long bonnet, this tip is great. Tie a tennis ball on a piece of string and park your car as normal, as far away from your garage wall as you like. Secure the string on the roof directly above where the tennis ball will land in the middle of the windscreen. Next time you park, follow the ball and never run into the wall again:

7. DIY dent removal

If you have some small dents on your car you can’t afford to have fixed, give this a try. Grab a plunger and place over the dent. Once suctioned, pull the plunger towards you and hey presto, your dents will be gone!

8. Cool a hot car in 1 minute

In our Australian summer, our cars can get hot quickly, especially if you park on the street or at a shopping centre. With this tip, you can cool your car in under a minute: simply unwind your driver’s window and then walk around to the passenger side and open and close the door 10-15 times. This will push the hot air out and cool your car down quickly.

9. Keychain

Key rings are a nice way to personalise your keys but having too many can weigh down not only your bag or pocket, but also affect your ignition. The extra strain could make the ignition wear out quicker and cause other problems internally.

10. Macgyver your radiator

If you have a hole in your radiator and are lucky enough to have an egg nearby, you can crack it into your radiator, fill up with water and drive to the nearest mechanic. The egg cooks in the heat and provides a seal so water cannot get out. This is just a temporary fix, however!

11. Find the cheapest fuel

It can be annoying buying fuel only to find it was 5c cheaper up the road. With the MotorMouth app for iPhone and Android, you can check fuel prices in real time on your phone (pull over first!)

12. Seat adjustments

If your partner or children use your car and adjust the seat regularly, it can be frustrating to find the exact way you had it before. but with a little tape, you can have a constant reminder of where your seat usually sits:

Do you drive a lot? What is your best driving tip? Which of these will you use? Tell us below!