How to keep the car running

A car was once a luxury that only the rich could afford to own and run, but since Henry Ford started mass producing his Model T in the 1940s, cars have become readily available. But if the cost of running a car continue to rise however, it might become more of a luxury commodity again.

Relatively speaking, the cost of buying a car is decreasing, running it however, is becoming more expensive. In the last two years, the annual cost of maintaining a car has increased by 11% according to a recent survey by Sainsbury's Finance.

According to this survey, annual car costs are ?2,338 on average. This rise is largely due to increased servicing costs, higher taxes and more expensive insurance premiums.

Since 2007, servicing costs have increased by 3.76% despite the world recession. Why is this? Are we actually getting a better service than in 2007? The answer, most likely, is no.

Car tax, on average, has also increased, although this varies greatly depending on the type of car you drive. Car tax now averages at almost ?170, an increase of 7.5% on 2007 levels. However, this result hides the variation that has resulted from the new 'green tax' i.e. taxing the dirtiest and most polluting cars more than the cleaner, efficient ones.

This is designed to get drivers into more efficient cars that have less impact on the environment. So in fact, some car owners can now enjoy lower road tax than they used to pay back in 2007. Therefore, it pays to downsize to a more fuel efficient car that gives off fewer harmful CO2 emissions and, because it is more economical, you will also pay less for fuel. Not included in the survey is the price of fuel, which has also increased since 2007, therefore getting more miles to the gallon is doubly as important now.

Insurance has caused the biggest stir however. Car insurance now averages ?551 per car, this is a massive increase of 23% on 2007 levels making it by far the single biggest cost involved with running a car. Sadly, car insurance is a legal requirement to driving on British roads. So getting the right insurance at the right price is now even more of crucial.

Auto Direct can find you the cheapest possible insurance quote for your car and driving needs and they are so sure about this that if they can't they will give you your money back. So surely they are worth a try. With fuel and taxes likely to increase further, you should start saving on your car insurance now.

Article Source: http://www.casinoarticlessite.com

The author of this article is Jerri Holleran. In order to choose the right cheap van insurance policy, make sure to visit the Auto Direct van insurance page.

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