Sunday , February 9 2025

Average UK car costs £192 a month to run

Cost of motoring

New research has revealed that it costs an average of £192 a month to run a car, with fuel accounting for nearly half of all expenditure.

The study, conducted by online car parts provider CarParts4Less, calculated an eye-watering total of £2,300 a year.

Fuel costs for a typical driver were found to be £1,142 every 12 months. This varies considerably by fuel-type, however, as while a year’s worth of petrol will set you back a steep £1,042, diesel is 26% more expensive, averaging £1,312.

Even at current fuel prices, which are at a four-year low due to Covid-19, it would cost £890 for petrol and £1,112 for diesel.

The next biggest cost is insurance. While this depends on many factors, such as your car, where you live and the type of cover, the average motorist forks out over £500 annually.

On top of these, London drivers may also have to pay congestion charges. At £11.50 a day, a commuter could spend £2,600 a year travelling through the city centre, taking their overall annual motoring costs to a staggering £4,900.

Expense Annual cost per car
Fuel (petrol / diesel) £1,142 (£1,042 petrol / £1,312 diesel)
Congestion charges (London) £2,600
Insurance £506
Repairs/servicing/other work £303
Road tax £145
Spare parts £72
Parking £50
Garage rent/car washing/other costs £41
Breakdown cover £18
Accessories/fittings £9
Anti-freeze, battery water, cleaning materials £5
Motor oils £5
Fines £5
Total (exc. congestion charges) £2,299
Total (inc. congestion charges) £4,899

 

About Gareth Herincx

Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who's worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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