British motorists could once again find themselves as part of a nation of one car families, the RAC has suggested.
According to the motoring organisation, which today publishes it annual 'Cost of Motoring Index', the cost of motoring for Britain's 30 million drivers has actually reduced over the year yet most believe it has risen, leading many to revise their car use.
The index report found that the cost of motoring has fallen 5 per cent, the equivalent saving of £123 in 2009 to make an average annual expenditure of £2,219 for each car. Despite this small reduction, an RAC poll revealed that eight out of 10 cash-strapped motorists still believe that the cost of running their car has risen. And in response nearly half of those surveyed (45 per cent) have been making significant changes to their motoring lifestyle over the last year, such as reducing their car ownership and moving towards a one car household.
The Cost of Motoring Index profiles the day to day running costs associated with owning a car includes road tax, fuel, insurance, maintenance and breakdown cover.
For the first time Index also calculated the annual running costs for used cars, which is £2,744, a staggering 24 per cent (£525) higher than for new vehicles. Much of the added expense of running a used car was associated with maintenance costs and higher road tax.
An impressive 45 per cent of motorists surveyed have made changes to their car ownership habits in 2009 and of these, a fifth have returned to running just one car.
In addition to these new one car households, 28 per cent of motorists stated that they're using their car less and 6 per cent admitted downsizing their vehicle for a smaller model. Unsurprisingly the need to save money was cited as the most common reason for making a change. And motorists are embracing these changes, with two-thirds claiming they won't revert back once the economy improves.
Sadly only 28 per cent of motorists cited environmental benefits as an incentive for change. Saving money was rated the top benefit, although 35 per cent of those motorists who have made changes appreciated their actions had an environmental impact too.
Commenting on this year's findings, RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink said: “It’s been a tough year for motorists, and while it’s good news that the costs of running a car have slightly dropped in the past 12 months, it probably won’t feel like it at a time when the family budget is being squeezed from all sides. So despite the drop, the overriding desire for drivers is to cut back where they can.
“We’re seeing motorists really question how they use their cars. The trend towards the one car family shows how people are prepared to make fundemental lifestyle changes for the benefit of themselves, their families and their pockets. But such change for a lot of drivers is still merely an aspiration, with practical difficulties caused by work and family needs or a lack of alternatives, such as inadequate public transport, stopping them in their tyre tracks.”
The RAC report also found that women were twice as likely to have downsized their vehicle in the last 12 months compared to men. According to the CoM Index, a motorist can save £769 a year by downsizing from a large saloon to a small car.
Women drivers have also quickly re-evaluated the role of a car in their lives, 9 out of 10 have found positive benefits in using their car less and 73 per cent said the changes they've made will be permanent.
Nonetheless, one in four (26 per cent) motorists surveyed said they were trapped into car ownership and couldn't afford to downsize or reduce the number of vehicles they own, with a further 8% unable to sell their current vehicle in order to fund a change.
A further 34 per cent of motorists polled considered reducing their car use in 2009, but didn't; deeming public transport a considerable barrier (21 per cent), as well as not wishing to sacrifice the freedom their car provides (41 per cent), and recognising that they would be unable to fulfil family requirements if they did (23 per cent).
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