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Motorists 'spend £51bn' on cars

Keeping a vehicle on the road is costing British motorists more than £51 billion a year, according to new figures.

Research by Zurich found that car owners in the UK spend an average of £1,776 every year on general expenses such as vehicle tax, fuel, parking and maintenance.

However, 91 per cent stated that the cost of running a car has increased over the last five years, prompting many to either break the law or take shortcuts.

For example, one in five admitted to delaying or avoiding costs such as parking fines, car insurance and road tax, while almost three-quarters said they put off paying for repair and maintenance.

In addition, one in three said they delayed paying for vehicle tax and an MOT, despite them being legal requirements for motorists.

Mark Searles, chief marketing officer at Zurich Insurance, commented: "The cost of motoring has risen dramatically over the past few years, putting drivers under increasing financial pressure."

He added that the trend of drivers risking their own and others' safety in a bid to save money was "worrying".

Recent research by Direct Line found that many drivers knowingly park illegally to avoid high parking charges.

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27/04/2007 16:33:04

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