As a doctor, a car is a necessity and NOT a luxury – it should be made more affordable

A CAR is integral to the work of junior doctor Robyn Lewis. But she finds that the cost of owning, running and insuring her Vauxhall Corsa is a big burden on her finances.

The 24-year-old, from Ealing, West London, has just graduated from medical school and is about to take up a more permanent post at a hospital in West London.

She says: ‘During my studies, I needed my car to drive to hospitals in London and across the South East. ‘For around five months I was spending as much as two-anda-half hours a day in my car. I

could have used public transport, but that would have meant spending even longer commuting.’

Robyn estimates she spends around £200 a month on petrol. She also pays £20 a month for a servicing plan which covers the cost of repairs – plus road tax, a resident parking permit and occasional parking fees at hospitals.

While all of these costs mount up, the biggest motoring expense remains her car insurance.

She says: ‘When I first passed my driving test, I paid around £1,400 for insurance. I have been driving for several years and am still paying a huge £800 for my current policy.

‘With insurance costing this much, it is really hard for young drivers to be able to afford to keep a car on the road. I would support a call for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to scrap – or at least reduce – insurance premium tax for young motorists.

‘I think the Government should be taking steps to make driving more affordable for people like me. In my work, a car is a necessity, not a luxury.’