British motorists are revving up over £51bn pounds a year just to keep their vehicles on the road, according to new research by Zurich.
More than 9 in 10 (91 %) say car-running costs have increased over the last 5 years. Three quarters (74 %) say that owning a car forces them to budget carefully.
7 in 10 admit to putting off paying for repairs and maintenance, with a third (32 %) put off paying vehicle tax and 30 % on paying for an MOT, even though they are legal requirements. While 22 % say they have delayed paying for insurance, 3 % even admit to driving without insurance.
Few of us, it seems, will make the ultimate sacrifice and ditch our wheels completely, with nearly 3 quarters (73 %) saying they could never live without their car, and just 7 % would consider selling their main car if costs continue to rise.
3 quarters (77 %) of motorists surveyed by Zurich say they are against the Government's proposals to introduce road charging – with 78 % believing that it will be a means of generating more tax.
Mark Searles, chief marketing officer at Zurich Insurance says, “The cost of motoring has risen dramatically over the past few years, putting drivers under increasing financial pressure. The most worrying findings from our research are those that show some drivers are risking their own and others' safety in a bid to save money. We need to change those attitudes and remember that it is a legal requirement to have both a valid MOT and insurance. Everyone pays an extra £30 per year on their premium as a result of accidents that are caused by those with no insurance.”
