Almost two thirds of UK motorists are reducing their vehicle usage to cut fuel bills, according to new research by BookMyGarage.com.
The study on the impact of the cost of living crisis by the MOT, servicing and repairs comparison site explored how motorists are cutting expenditure as millions of drivers feel the financial pinch.
A total of 64% of those surveyed said they would look to change their vehicle usage patterns in order to save money. Revealing the extent of the caution amongst UK drivers, the survey showed that as well as using their cars less, nearly half (49%) of the 2,113 motorists surveyed are also driving more economically to save fuel.
While the UK’s CPIH inflation rate dipped slightly to 8.8% in January 2023, it remains at levels not seen for 30 years, impacting most aspects of running and maintaining a vehicle. This means drivers are looking to amend their vehicle usage in order to spend the money saved in other areas, such as energy bills.
Vehicle usage not the only saving
Motorists are also making savings elsewhere, meaning the UK’s car parc of vehicles might not be looking as pristine as usual. Over a quarter of drivers (28.4%) said they are putting off cosmetic repairs, whilst many (27.4%) are also cleaning their car less frequently to save money.
“The impact of the financial situation in the UK is making itself felt when it comes to expenditure on car running and maintenance costs,” said Jessica Potts, Head of Marketing at BookMyGarage.com. For millions of families, fuel bills are a significant part of the monthly budget, and when petrol and diesel prices are still so high, cutting usage can make a real difference.
“Reducing vehicle usage by just 10%, or 1,000 miles, could save hundreds of pounds in fuel bills. We understand the strain many are under and while cutting fuel bills is a money saver, we wouldn’t recommend cutting corners on car maintenance as it can lead to bigger bills in the long term.
“We recommend shopping around for the best prices locally, and if drivers think their car is in need of a professional inspection, we’d encourage them to use our 17-point Winter Health Check free of charge at participating garages.”
The analysis comes after BookMyGarage.com reported in December that one-in-three motorists say they are likely to delay or skip having their vehicle serviced in the next 12 months due to increasing financial pressures.
