Car running costs & how to save money
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  • Car running costs & how to save money
  • 10 November 2022
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    Car running costs & how to save money

    The cost of living crisis is impacting everything and everyone. As prices are rising, millions of people are looking at ways to save money, so we've put together this guide.
The majority of people within the UK own a car and use it daily to get to work and back, visit friends and family or to run errands. However, running a car can be costly and during a time of crisis many are looking for ways to save money. Within our guide, we have outlined several common running costs you will face with owning a vehicle and also things you can do to save money. 

Car maintenance costs

It is possible to save and budget for your car maintenance needs, as some are predictable. However, you need to consider some unpredictable costs such as breakdowns and repairs, which may be quite costly.

Some damage on your car, such as dents, scratches and windscreen chips and cracks may be covered by your insurance. Other repairs that may arise include re-grassing your air con, replacing your windscreen wipers or changing your tires. Maintenance of your car may include checking on oil and washer levels, and buying replacements to re-fill if needed, to ensure your car runs at it's best potential.


Servicing & MOT's

One part of car maintenance that is always predictable is your MOT. By law, if your vehicle is three years or older, you must have an MOT test completed to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive and is within the boundaries of set legal limits.

According to government guidelines, a garage can not charge more than £54.85 for an MOT test, which can typically take up to an hour. However, if your car fails its MOT test charges could quickly add up to fix the problems.

You can book in for an MOT or service with West Way here.


Car insurance 

This could potentially be very expensive if you are either a new or young driver, or have recently gotten into an accident. Within the UK, it is a legal requirement that you must have some form of insurance on your vehicle. If you are driving whilst uninsured you could face a fine of £100, or worse, have your vehicle impounded and destroyed.

A lot of people tend to go for fully comprehensive insurance, as this type of policy will cover most, if not all, instances of damage. You will also not have to face a financial burden from injury claims because of an accident.

In 2021, Money Supermarket reported the average insurance cost within the UK was £412 for fully comprehensive.


Breakdown cover

Another very important factor you need to consider is breakdown cover. This can often be included within your insurance policy. Breakdown cover can be quite costly and a variety of providers will offer different levels of cover for a range of prices.


Car road tax

Earlier this year road tax prices were increased due to new Vehicle Excise Duty rates being published. This means, on average, drivers will be paying an extra £10-30 compared to previous rates. Those who are buying brand new vehicles from a show room will see the most substantial changes, as they could be charged an extra £120 for the vehicles first year on the road, which is known as a 'showroom tax'.

How to save money

As the situation within the UK worsens, we wanted to give some advice to those who are trying to save their pennies. This is why we've put together several guides to ensure you can cut costs. 

Pre-pay for any for any cosmetic work your car needs with a cosmetic maintenance plan. Find out more here.

Want to save money on your insurance? Learn more about black box policies here.

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Avoid getting into an accident late night with our guide to late night driving.

Want to ensure your car passes its MOT? Here's 10 checks you can make.

Here's 10 things you can do to make your car last longer.

Nissan servicing comes with eight key benefits, including free RAC cover, a return voucher & 0% finance on repairs. Find out more here.

Here are four key changes you can make to avoid being fined.

Follow our guide of five ways to save money as a driver here. 


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