Gordon Brown may be “sharing our pain” as the economy steadily worsens – but most would prefer that he reduced it. Alistair Darling’s decision this week to delay the next two-pence hike in fuel duty due in October for six months was widely expected, but at least it’s a start. But all that means is that the Government won’t be taking any more money off you. To see just how much your car is already costing you, have a look at the annual running cost tables at Theaa.com – if you dare. The AA’s tables reveal that a petrol car costing over £30,000 chews up roughly 135p per mile, based on mileage of 10,000 miles a year, if you account for all running costs, including depreciation. So how can you bring this down?
For those living in the city, there are radical options available. You could sell the money pit on the front drive and take public transport instead, for example. But that’s no good if you live somewhere with patchy public transport. Joining a car club, such as Zipcar.co.uk or Streetcar.co.uk, is another possibility. Trouble is, if you need a car frequently or at short notice, the cost will spiral. So for those who’d rather not do without, here are some easy ways to keep your car running costs down.
First off, buy second hand. The biggest single cost on the AA tables is depreciation – a whopping £7,000 plus per year for that £30,000-plus car. Second-hand car prices are dropping rapidly – down 14% this year alone on average, according to Charlotte Bailey in The Daily Telegraph. Indeed, June has been so tough for dealers that anyone buying a large car second-hand is now “treated like royalty”, says Mark Norman at CAP.
Pay a little more to buy from a registered dealer if quality is a big concern, and bear in mind that many cars carry warranties extending to three, five or even seven years, so reliability need not be a big issue. If you know your stuff (or can bring along a friend who does), then save money at a car supermarket such as Cargiant.co.uk. For added reassurance you can pay an engineer to carry out a key point check. Contact the AA, or visit Nationalvehicleinspections.co.uk.
Then there’s servicing. Older cars are often cheaper – at Ford, for example, a service for a car over five years old can cost up to 30% less. You’ll also often get a discount for booking your next service via the internet. Also make sure to check with the mechanic if work is really necessary (to pass an MOT, say), or if it can wait.
Insurance is the other big cost. Premiums have roughly doubled in the last 14 years. Easy ways to keep the cost down include not modifying the car, keeping annual mileage as low as possible and buying something with an alarm and immobiliser fitted. Above all, shop around using sites such as Moneysupermarket.com, and don’t be afraid to ask your existing insurer to improve on their current quote.
How to fight back against over-zealous traffic wardens
One motoring expense that every driver could do without is parking tickets. According to Thisismoney.co.uk, 3.5 million tickets are issued every year in Britain, raising £214m for “town hall coffers”. The good news is that anyone who can be bothered to appeal has a good chance of winning. In 2005, for example, although only 9,500 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were appealed (less than 1% of the total), 57% were upheld. In London, where parking wardens are often encouraged to generate income from issuing tickets, Westminster Council lost a full 94% of all fines taken to an independent adjudicator over a six-month period. So how do you do it?
The system is designed to put you off – if you pay a PCN within 14 days then the fine, up to £120 in London and typically £40 elsewhere, is halved. So you need to be fairly confident of winning before starting. For a full list of possible grounds for appeal see Thisismoney.co.uk/fight-parking-tickets. Common complaints include having a valid ticket but being fined anyway, parking signs not being clear, or the parking bay being less than the 1.62 metre minimum width. Always take a photo if possible – a mobile phone camera will suffice.
Once you know why you’re appealing, send a short letter to your council (or get on their website for an online form) within 28 days. They may withdraw the fine. If they uphold it, they will send you a Notice to Owner form, in which you must give your grounds for appeal, normally within a further 28 days. Again the council may accept or reject your appeal. Rejection means you get an Appeal Notice form. Now you have another 28 days to lodge your complaint with the independent Parking Adjudication Service. You may elect to have the appeal determined by post, or turn up at the Hearing Centre in central London in person. It’s an effort, but for many, the saving, and sense of satisfaction of beating an over-zealous traffic warden, is worth it.