Motorists ‘need to help themselves to cut rising motoring costs’

Research by motoring organisations over recent weeks has shown that many of the larger car makers have increased car prices by up to 14 per cent since last autumn - meaning that hard-pressed British motorists, who were being wooed back into the market by the government-backed scrappage scheme, are having to think again about ways to save money.

Leading independent vehicle servicing network myFavouriteGarage.com believes that drivers are again being squeezed on all sides as fuel costs, proposed tax hikes, and now new car prices all escalate.

myFavouriteGarage.com director Ian James says that motorists can help themselves by taking a fresh look at what they drive and how they manage their motoring, to stop their motoring costs from spiraling upwards.

He said: “Whether these hikes in new car prices are the result of manufacturers trying to recoup the money they have to contribute under the scrappage scheme, or of the wider turmoil in the economy, they will hit new car buyers hard.

“Choosing a nearly new car may make far more sense for some people, and it is also worth thinking about whether you can manage with a smaller, lower-powered vehicle. By doing so, valuable savings can be made on the purchase price, insurance, fuel costs, and road tax.

“Drivers should also think hard about ongoing maintenance, and the cost of both servicing and parts.

“Cutting back on maintenance is counter-productive, but shopping around for good quality independent garages can result in very significant savings on service and maintenance costs compared with vehicle main dealers, and the warranty on brand new or second-hand vehicles will not be affected under European block exemption regulations.

“The key when shopping around is to look for garages that have been through a proper assessment and accreditation process so that you know you are buying quality - don’t rely simply on on-line service brokers who will not have fully assessed the garage’s competence and will be making money out of your enquiry.

“Everyone needs to watch their outgoings and the government has given every sign that motorists can expect environmental pressures to result in higher costs at the pump and on the road well into the future.

“So all but the most well-off drivers will need to take their own steps to minimise those pressures. Our advice is to take a long, hard look at what you need from your car, and look around for new ways to achieve this as cost-effectively as possible.”