It’s now costing €10,690 a year to run a car in Ireland

THE average cost of running a family car for a year is €10,691.37, according to recent research by the AA.

Between buying, taxing, insuring, repairing and refuelling cars, being an Irish driver is an expensive business.

The good news is that safer drivers are also more cost-efficient drivers - hard braking, aggressive acceleration and speeding all drain a car’s fuel tank.

Aim for a steady, controlled driving style, changing up gears as soon as possible and anticipating stops well in advance.

Extra weight also costs fuel. In a family car in particular, it is easy to let bags and junk accumulate but you are paying to drive it around with you.

The other way to save on fuel is to pay the best price - fill up where you know you are getting good value.

Also check your tyre pressure, the correct pressure will improve the mileage you get from fuel.

It also reduces the risk of a blowout, which could be dangerous as well as costly.

One of the best ways to reduce costs is to share them. If you have a colleague who lives nearby maybe you could take turns driving or share costs. A weekly contribution toward fuel adds up to a lot in a year.

The other major motoring cost is insurance. It is worth making an effort to shop around when your policy is due for renewal. One option is to see if bundling insurance will save you money.

Some insurers offer discounts if you also take out home and/ or travel cover, just do your homework to ensure you really are saving money.