Car-crazy Brits face big bills
Ninety-one per cent of British drivers say that running costs for their cars have increased over the last five years, after road tax has risen and the cost of parking, petrol and repairs have also soared.The industry is now worth £51 billion a year in the UK, with drivers spending an average of £1,776 every year on keeping their car on the road, according to Zurich Insurance. Seven in ten car owners say that the cost of maintenance work means that they intentionally delay getting their car fixed and a fifth of drivers admitted to having delayed or avoided paying for car insurance because of the expense. Mark Searles, chief marketing officer at Zurich Insurance, advised that drivers should try to budget effectively for all the costs that running a car can generate. He said: "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," he added.
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