MSE News: Driving costs soar in 12 months

Former_MSE_Helen

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"The cost of motoring has jumped by 14% over the past year, a report by the RAC says ..."

Read the full story:

Driving costs soar in 12 months

michaels

We run 2 cars for about 40% of what it allegedly costs to run 1?

KTF

Calls for 'graduated' state pension

The link is correct but the text isnt.

[Deleted User]

Good if it means less people on the roads to make my journey easier. Also cheaper used cars as everyone trades in their thirsty petrols for diesel econoboxes.

Dave_C_2

Shock news! Motoring costs rise and a motoring organisation says that something must be done to stem the tide.

In other news the Pope is said to be catholic and woodland ursine defecating habits have been questioned.

Dave

Caddyman

michaels wrote: »

We run 2 cars for about 40% of what it allegedly costs to run 1?

Yup, I'm the same. I suppose that's what happens though when you do an average across the board calculation. My wife and I have helped ourselves too by getting rid of an extremely gas guzzling Japanese sports car (RFL was £260 a year) and traded it in for a very eco famous brand Italian model with road tax of only £30 a year. Halved the cost of fuel and servicing costs into the bargain!

I also think it is high time the Government changed the rules on MOT's too. Every year (after the initial 3 year from new period) is too frequent imo for an MOT. Yes safety is always the most important aspect, but a test every year is just another money spinning racket for the government. Some countries (and I absolutely do not advocate this at all) only require a road worthiness test on a vehicle if it is being bought or sold by an individual. I have friends in Southern Africa for instance, who have owned the same car for over ten years and never had an MOT like test done in that entire time! That is just plain wrong in my view and I have actually refused to be a passenger in at least one car. I don't believe however that there is any harm in changing to a biannual MOT test. This is one measure that would help ease the financial burden on every motorist.

Aberdeenangarse

I do 6,000 miles a year in a decent second hand car. Total cost (including depreciation) just under £2,500

pudding06

I have to say its been a nightmare for us, OH needs car for work, 80 mile round trip to/from work, plus uses it at work. Costs have rocketed for us, plus work have decided to cut essential car user payments, and reduce mileage amounts so we are much much worse off. Its just one more nail in our financial coffin, and wonder how many others are experiencing the same, less money in and far more going out.

Dave_C_2

Caddyman wrote: »

My wife and I have helped ourselves too by getting rid of an extremely gas guzzling Japanese sports car (RFL was £260 a year) and traded it in for a very eco famous brand Italian model with road tax of only £30 a year. Halved the cost of fuel and servicing costs into the bargain!

Road Tax, also known as the Road Fund Licence was abolished in 1936, what you pay now is Vehicle Excise Duty and as you say the more you pollute the more you pay. Roads are paid for by general taxation and in fact VED does not raise enough revenue to pay for the roads.

Dave

CompBunny

I'm looking into various used cars for when my adored (but rather shabby) rust bucket dies. Difficult to find a modern-ish car that will be as economical within our tiny price range..
Bangernomics is ideally the way to go I think, but unfortunately not really practical for everyone. Hyper mileing/eco-driving techniques, however, is a real cost cutting saviour for all that can be bothered to give it a go Just make sure you are not risking safety for increased MPG!
With thoughtful driving I can get 72mpg on our ancient '93 diesel. My partner is a new driver who is doing really well learning how to drive efficiently gets 65mpg in it. Try it!

Road_Hog

Dave_C wrote: »

Road Tax, also known as the Road Fund Licence was abolished in 1936, what you pay now is Vehicle Excise Duty and as you say the more you pollute the more you pay. Roads are paid for by general taxation and in fact VED does not raise enough revenue to pay for the roads.

Dave

Rubbish, the more you pollute the more you pay? If we switched to a clean fuel. they'd still tax it, it's all about raising revenue. About 25% of the Road Tax (call it what you like) is spent on roads, the rest is pocketed by the government as general tax. Road Tax covers the cost of roads several times over.

If it were pay to pollute, why don't they switch to a tax on fuel? The answer is because we could leave our cars in the garage most of the time, only do short journeys etc. and avoid it. With Road Tax, even if the car is only used once a week they still get their full money.

Green Taxes are a myth, nothing is done with them. If they were really worried about pollution, why aren't they giving the Green Taxes to car manufacturer's R&D that are well advanced down the fuel cell route? Answer, because if we all jump in clean fuel car, the tax revenues dries up.

Same with air passenger duty, nothing green done with it at all, all goes in the government's coffers.