Running a Car Costs 13% More

The annual cost of driving has increased by more than 13% a year, and by more than 16% since 2006, has been revealed.

Excluding interest payments on loans, the annual cost is currently around 2,544 pounds, according to Sainsbury's Bank.

This compares with a figure of 2,240 pounds for the year 2007 and 2,189 pounds in 2006, with fuel prices this year, the main cause of the large increase in overall costs.

There was also a significant increase in taxes and servicing the car, with support increasing by 17.5% from the year 2006 and taxes going up 32.54% in the past two years.

Insurance has risen 10.22% since 2006 and the cost of MOT tests has increased 20.27% in the past two years.

Sainsbury's Car Insurance manager Joanne Mallon said: "Motoring is now a very expensive business. These costs, although they may be kept in check by shopping around better car insurance and fuel, for example."