Everything costs. And sometimes your car, truck or SUV can seem to take up your entire pay cheque to keep it on the road. Keeping your vehicle in good repair can seem expensive, but it's usually a lot cheaper to maintain a vehicle you own than to go out and try to finance a new one. And there are a few secrets to keeping costs in line that also ensure your ride is in fine shape for a long time to come.

First, switch away from the premium gas. There's just no real evidence that premium makes your car run better, longer, or more efficiently. At anywhere from 8 to 10 cents more per litre, that adds up to a whack of cash.

Second, pump up your tires. Now here there is good research that shows properly inflated tires do save you money. Generally, if you keep your tire pressure at 30 PSI, you'll get about 3-4% better gas mileage-but of course, always follow the manufacturer's instructions. You can also extend the life of your tires as much as 6% by keeping them properly inflated. So, since most gas stations let you check and fill up your tires for free, why not be sure yours are fully pumped?

Third, slow down. Transport Canada has made the news lately because of the growing number of young drivers traveling at extremely high speeds. Only recently, one driver was clocked at a whopping 150 km/hour. Besides being illegal, driving fast costs. Estimates are that for every 10 kilometres over 100 km/hour you drive, you pay another 10 cents in gas. So if you drive 100 km/hour, and the fast fellow next to you zooms by at 120 km/hour, smile and wave. For every dollar you pay in gas, they're paying $1.20-a lot of cash just to go fast.

Fourth, find gas stations that give you a discount if you pay with green. Some places drop the price by 2 cents/litre when you pay with cash instead of plastic.

When you add up your savings from slowing down, buying regular instead of premium, pumping your tires and paying in cash, your gas costs can plummet 30% or even more, a huge cost savings.

Regular maintenance is another key to keeping your car in tip-top shape. Sometimes, though, you need more work. Maybe your dog ate your back seat. Maybe you had a fender bender. Or maybe you just want to change up the look of your car with a new paint job. These kinds of repairs can be costly, and that's where a car repair loan can be really handy.

Many people aren't aware that you can get a car title loan to do car repairs. As long as you own your vehicle, and it's less than eight years old, you may qualify for a vehicle title loan to give it some much-needed TLC. You can often get the loan approved in about one day for up to 40% of the wholesale value of your vehicle. Just fill out the application online, and see. Then keep your ride in great shape so you can drive it for a long time to come.