With the cost of living on the rise, we’ve partnered with Vitality to help you find simple ways to keep your driving costs low by driving smarter, greener and safer...
- 2. Avoidable fines
- 3. Poor maintenance
- 4. Crashes and potholes
- 5. Aggressive driving
- 6. Carrying extra weight
- 7. Underinflated tyres
- 8. Driving without MOT or tax
- 9. Fast lane mentality
- 10. Don’t idle in heavy traffic
When it comes to nasty surprises, unexpected motoring bills can be some of the worst. Fuel bills, repairs, servicing costs and driving fines can quickly rack up into large expenses. And, as fuel and energy prices and the cost of living continue to rise, we all need to look for simple ways to cut costs – especially when it comes to the expense of owning and driving a car.
That’s why What Car? has teamed up with Vitality as our official car insurance partner. Vitality’s comprehensive car insurance actively rewards you for good driving (and the days you don’t drive at all) with up to 25% cashback per month on your policy – that’s £98 for most of us. Terms apply.
Vitality’s in-car Good Driving Sensor and smartphone app work like a smartwatch for your car – recognising when you drive well, based on the ABCDS of Acceleration, Braking, Cornering, Distraction and Speed.
Stick to these core principles, and you’ll not only save money on your insurance (worth up to £98 per plan year) and be more fuel-efficient on every journey, but you’ll also be a better driver, helping us all make our roads safer.
So, let’s dive into the 10 motoring mistakes that could cost you money (and how to avoid them).
1. Misfuelling
It’s something every parent has told their new-to-driving teenager: “don’t use the wrong fuel!” But the reality is, even if you’ve been driving for decades, a brief lapse in concentration at the pump could put you in a world of costly pain.
If you have put in the wrong fuel, you’re not alone: around 150,000 Brits misfuel every year[1]. If you find yourself in this position, don’t start the engine! The majority of damage from misfuelling comes from starting the ignition.
The RAC will charge £290.99 for its misfuelling repair service, so always double-check the pump before you start fuelling if you don’t want to spend out – especially if you’re in a car you’re not familiar with.
2. Avoidable fines
Generally, there are two types of driving fines: ones issued on private land, and those issued by the council or law enforcement. Parking on double-yellow lines, stopping in box junctions, driving in bus lanes, and speeding are some of the most common offences on British roads – and each can be as costly as the last.
Research by the DVLA suggests that between April 2021 and April 2022, UK drivers handed over 8.6 million parking notices by private firms – that’s 23,000 a day – with tickets costing up to £100 each[2].
Further data suggests that TfL issued over 5.6 million parking fines in London alone, while figures show that a massive £226.5 million is collected every year from speeding fines.
Furthermore, one bus lane in Slough caught over 7,000 drivers in 12 months, while the cost for being caught stationary in a yellow box junction can be as high as £160.
The point is, avoidable fines like these can add up to become major bills over the course of several years. Always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings, and always stick to the speed limit.
3. Poor maintenance
Data collected by Kwik Fit shows that drivers will spend an average of £191.50 a year on routine servicing and maintenance[4]. While that might sound like a big investment that you can ignore or skimp, neglecting your car’s needs will always cost you more in the long run.
In fact, further data shows that the average motorist will spend an additional £159.09 a year on unexpected breakdowns and repairs[4] – jobs that could easily be avoided with regular servicing.
BONUS TIP: Regular maintenance and servicing could also ensure your car has a better value when you come to sell it. Data shows that 50 per cent of driver’s wouldn’t buy a car with incomplete service history[5].
4. Crashes and potholes
This one sounds obvious, but you’d probably be surprised just how much silly scrapes, knocks and pothole damage costs the average driver each year.
Research by MoneySuperMarket suggests that the average cost of a car accident is just over £400, meaning a momentary lapse in concentration when you’re in stop-start traffic or parking your car can quickly add up to a big expense.
Additionally, data from Kwik Fit claims that repair bills from hitting potholes cost UK drivers £1.7bn in the last year alone[6]. While it’s not always possible to avoid nasty potholes, you could be eligible to claim for pothole damage to your car. If you’ve hit once recently that’s caused damage, contact your local council.
BONUS TIP: Park away from SUVs and people carriers where possible. Children have a tendency to throw open car doors with little care for what’s around. Save yourself the damage and park slightly further away.
5. Aggressive driving
A study by Oak Ridge National Laboratory revealed that aggressive driving – sudden braking and harsh acceleration – can reduce fuel efficiency by between 10 and 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic, and between 15 to 30 percent at motorway speeds[7].
Pair that with the fact that drivers are, on average, already spending an extra £32 a month on fuel compared to this time last year[8], imagine and gentle acceleration, smooth braking and sensible cornering can all add up to save you a lot of money.
BONUS TIP: Many modern automatic cars are designed with fuel efficiency in mind, meaning the gearbox will change up early and keep your revs low. But, in manual cars, it’s down to the driver. Try changing up at around 2,000rpm in diesels, and 2500rpm in petrols, to improve overall efficiency.
6. Carrying extra weight
Another way to hamper your fuel economy and increase your fuel bills is by lugging around unnecessary weight and keeping empty bike racks and roof boxes fitted when you’re not using them.
The fuel consumption of a mid-size car increases by about one per cent for every 25 kilograms of additional weight it carries[9], while an empty rack can increase drag by up to 16 per cent at around 70mph[10] which will further hurt your consumption. Don’t use your car as storage!
7. Underinflated tyres
A study by Michelin claims that UK motorists waste roughly £246 million on fuel every year down to underinflated tyres[11].
Driving a vehicle with tyres underinflated by just 8psi can increase fuel consumption by up to four per cent and reduce tyre life by 6,000 miles. Not only is this dangerous, but with the average cost of one tyre between £45-70, it can be costly too. Make sure to regularly check your tyre pressures, it only takes a few minutes.
BONUS TIP: On newer cars, the recommended tyre pressure is normally listed on a sticker inside the driver’s door. If there’s no sticker on the door, you can usually find the specs in the owner’s manual.
8. Driving without MOT or tax
Research by Kwik Fit has revealed that 19 per cent of all motorists without a valid MOT certificate didn’t know when their MOT had expired, while 16 per cent didn’t know their car even needed an MOT test at all[12]. Additionally, the number of cars without valid road tax has trebled since tax discs were scrapped in 2014[13].
The penalty for these crimes can be quite severe, with fines up to £2500 and £1000 respectively. By putting a simple reminder in your calendar, you could save yourself thousands.
9. Fast lane mentality
On a free-flowing motorway, it’s easy to get into the mindset of middle-lane or outside-lane driving to avoid slow inside-lane traffic. But it’s easy for your speed to drift up, which not only could put you above the speed limit, but also is less fuel or energy efficient.
In fact, research shows that a petrol car will increase its fuel consumption by 12.8 per cent when travelling at 75mph compared to 60mph, while a diesel’s consumption can rocket by 17.7 per cent[14].
BONUS TIP: In-car tech like cruise control and speed limiter can actually help boost your fuel economy by keeping your car at a steady speed. If you’ve for the features, use them.
10. Don’t idle in heavy traffic
According to a study by the DHEC, an average idling engine can use nearly two litres of fuel per hour[15].
Not only will this hurt your wallet, but massively increase your personal carbon footprint. When you’re stationary for more than one minute, switch your engine off to save money and fuel.
[1]https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/wrong-fuel-recovery/#:~:text=If%20you’ve%20put%20the,and%20solutions%20are%20out%20there
[2]https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/44202da3-749e-480f-8fb7-b47c2b3ab59a/parking-penalty-charge-notices-pcns
[3]https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/vehicle-speed-compliance-statistics-data-tables-spe
[4]https://www.kwik-fit.com/press/motorists-costs-running-at-one-hundred-and-sixty-two-pounds-per-month-excluding-cost-of-the-car
[5]https://www.kwik-fit.com/blog/how-to-check-your-car-service-history
[6] https://www.kwik-fit.com/press/pothole-impact-on-drivers-pockets
[8] https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/26/drivers-in-uk-paying-extra-1100000000-a-month-for-fuel-compared-to-last-year-17070247/
[9] https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/transportation-alternative-fuels/personal-vehicles/fuel-efficient-driving-techniques/21038
[10] https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/how-to/fuel-saving-tips/
[11] https://pressat.co.uk/releases/under-pressure-uk-motorists-put-lives-at-risk-and-waste-246-million-on-fuel-4cde89d9cce067bee63b765bd612e2e1/
[12] https://www.kwik-fit.com/press/4-million-drivers-admit-to-driving-without-an-mot
[13] https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/driving-without-tax-guide/
[14]https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/reports/5984%20EST%20A4%20ecodriving%20guide_v6.pdf
[15] https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/Library/CR-010109.pdf
Keyword: 10 driving mistakes that could cost you money (and how to avoid them)