How to get around rising bills for travel
CHEAPER PETROL
Petrol prices are particularly tough to swallow right now but you can save money by shopping around.
Out-of-town supermarkets tend to have the cheapest prices at the pumps but you can also find the best-value outlets near you by downloading the Petrolprices.com app.
Also, save money by paying with a cashback credit card. Most petrol stations will take any credit cards, which means you can fill up using American Express.
Its Platinum Cashback Everyday card offers 5 per cent for the first three months then 0.5-1 per cent after that. By using that to buy your petrol you at least know your bill is a little cheaper in real terms.
Ignore “premium” fuels at the pump. They claim they offer performance and economy advantages, while cleaning and protecting your engine. But unless you have a performance vehicle, you’re unlikely to benefit.
CAR SHARING
Get into car-sharing for regular journeys with BlaBlacar.com (Covid guidelines permitting). You can share the petrol costs or, if you provide a lift to two people, you could find yourself having the whole cost covered by their contribution. It’s also worth trying LiftShare. com to help cover the price of your journeys. According to Liftshare, doing this with your daily commute can save you more than £1000 a year.
M.O.T TESTS
The Government sets a maximum test fee of £54.85 for car MOTs, but service centres often run half-price deals. Shop around for an MOT but, to avoid cowboys, try to choose a garage through a personal recommendation from someone you trust.