Drivers now spend £3,500 a year to run their car

Owning a car has always been one of the biggest financial commitments one can make.

But with rising fuel costs and new car shortages driving up used car prices, it’s slow more expensive than ever to run an engine.

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Insurance Revolution looked at the numbers and calculated the average driver now spends £3,500 a year running his car.

The biggest cost is in fuel, which averages £1,435 each year whether petrol or diesel is used.

The next biggest expense is insurance, which averaged just under £500 for someone with no claims or convictions.

maintenance was also rated and cost between £250 and £300 for most people.

The often forgotten costs such as vehicle tax, car wash, necessities such as antifreeze, wiper water and tools as well as any fines that may be incurred were also taken into account.

Of course there are also parking permits to be observed.

Mark Rigby, CEO of Insurance Revolution, said: “Buying a new car is exciting and fun, and it should be!

“You want to show off your new purchase to everyone you know and maybe plan a much-needed road trip too.

“While we want to join your enthusiasm, it’s also important to be aware of the additional bills that people sometimes forget.

“We hope that our research has helped car owners and future car owners not only with the biggest costs, but also with the things that people sometimes forget about when owning a car, such as road tax, parking and car washing.”

CarGurus recently published their tips on how to save fuel and reduce costs for drivers.

These include removing excess weight from your car, removing roof racks when not needed, and driving smoothly rather than accelerating and braking heavily.

It has also warned that a car’s air conditioning affects fuel economy and should only be used as much as necessary to save fuel.

A car’s tire pressure is also crucial to ensuring it uses less fuel, so drivers are encouraged to check their car’s official pressure instructions and inflate them accordingly.