Car costs drop to 2005 levels
- Published: 03/08/2007
The cost of running a car has fallen back down to 2005 levels, a new report claims.
A study from breakdown service RAC reveals that car maintenance costs have dropped by eight per cent to £273 a year over the last 12 months - while the real cost of fuel consumption has fallen by ten per cent.
The study asserts that the increasing fuel-efficiency of newer models is behind the large drop in annual cost, although the fact that petrol prices are 0.24 per cent lower than a year ago is also a contributing factor.
Diesel costs have fallen by 1.22 per cent, additionally.
And growth in the overall cost of motoring has slowed as a result of the drop in running costs, the study shows. It went up by three per cent last year, the report showed, compared to an 11 per cent increase the previous year.
"It's good news that the day-to-day costs of motoring are in decline, which will help to relieve some of the burden of running a car," RAC technical director David Bizley said.
"However, with both bus and train fares continuing to rise, and with growing congestion making journey times unreliable on our roads, the fall in car running costs is unlikely to help government in its attempts to persuade motorists to make greater use of public transport."
A study from breakdown service RAC reveals that car maintenance costs have dropped by eight per cent to £273 a year over the last 12 months - while the real cost of fuel consumption has fallen by ten per cent.
The study asserts that the increasing fuel-efficiency of newer models is behind the large drop in annual cost, although the fact that petrol prices are 0.24 per cent lower than a year ago is also a contributing factor.
Diesel costs have fallen by 1.22 per cent, additionally.
And growth in the overall cost of motoring has slowed as a result of the drop in running costs, the study shows. It went up by three per cent last year, the report showed, compared to an 11 per cent increase the previous year.
"It's good news that the day-to-day costs of motoring are in decline, which will help to relieve some of the burden of running a car," RAC technical director David Bizley said.
"However, with both bus and train fares continuing to rise, and with growing congestion making journey times unreliable on our roads, the fall in car running costs is unlikely to help government in its attempts to persuade motorists to make greater use of public transport."