As the cold weather arrives and we begin to wrap up warm many of us ensure our homes are running efficiently too, perhaps installing some eco-friendly gadgets to help us save money and use less energy.
But we should also look at cars at this time of year as a badly maintained car has more of a chance of breaking down in the winter and will cost more money to run.
One of the most important things you can do to ensure you don't break down this winter and ensure your car is running as economically as possible is to make sure it has a proper service.
You can either pay a reputable garage to do this for you or for the keen amateur it is not a difficult task to do.
A car service involves: changing the oil and oil filter, changing the air-filter, checking and replacing spark plugs, and ensuring other fluid levels are topped up.
For the winter it is important you ensure you have plenty of tread on your tyres, your brake pads are not worn down and that the radiator has enough anti-freeze in the system.
But there are other things you can do to improve efficiency and avoid breakdown.
A cold weather starter is a useful tool to have.
These devices can jump-start a car with a flat battery - a very common occurrence as temperatures drop and batteries are more likely to fail.
And to save fuel there are fuel saving devices that can be fitted in vehicles that use magnetism to reduce fuel consumption.
While these devices may be effective, perhaps, the best method for saving fuel is to drive more smoothly, ensure your tyres are fully inflated and remember to have the car fully serviced.