The annual cost of driving can easily accelerate into the £1,000s. Even if you've got a small run around car, fuel, parking, MOTs, insurance, breakdown cover and more quickly add up.
Yet it's possible to save on all of them. Here are 5 easy tips to follow to save on your car expenses.
Tip #1: Find the cheapest petrol station in seconds
Before you fill up, use the free online tool PetrolPrices.com to find the cheapest unleaded, diesel, super unleaded or premium diesel petrol nearby. Register, enter a postcode, town / city and how far you're willing to travel, and it will list the cheapest in the area.
Tip #2: Charge electric cars for free across the UK
Zap-Map ( available as an app for Android and iOS) can be used to locate free electric vehicle charging points across the country – on its map, go to the 'Filters' tab, then ‘Payment' followed by 'Free to use' to display those which have been marked as free – Zap-Map claimed that, as of April 2023, there were over 3,500 around the UK, many in car parks.
Tip #3: Check photo licence expiry or risk a £1,000 fine
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has confirmed that more than 3.6 million are currently out-of-date – so check yours.
Driving licence photos must be replaced every 10 years.
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you drive while your photocard's expired. It's £14 to renew online, £17 by post or £21.50 at a post office – a cost, but far better than the alternative.
Tip #4: Young drivers save £1,000s on insurance with specialist policies
Finding affordable young drivers' car insurance can be a challenge – the cost of cover has increased by 46% and the average premium for those under 25-years-old is now over £2,000 a year…
Here are a some options to explore to bring that down:
1. Pay as you drive
Specialist 'pay-as-you-drive' schemes, also known as telematics, are worth checking to see if they undercut alternative quotes.
With these, a device commonly known as a black box is fitted to your car and monitors your driving, so what you pay depends on your mileage, the time you drive and your driving style.
2. Learner driver insurance
Learners are often added to parents' or friends' car insurance as an additional driver.
This can up the cost, and put the principal driver's no-claims bonus at risk. Consider getting a specific policy just for the provisional driver instead.
Tip #5: Save on fuel by changing your driving habits
Changing your driving style slightly can help you save on fuel costs…
Here are a few pointers:
Accelerate gradually: Press harder on the pedal and more fuel flows. Get to the same speed using less power. As a rough rule, try to stay under 3,000 revs.
Drive in the correct gear: Always drive in the highest gear possible (without labouring the engine).
Slow naturally: Rather than brake frequently, let your car slow naturally if possible.
Think about road position: To do all this takes road awareness. The more alert you are, the better you can plan ahead and move gradually.