All roads lead to... paying a packet!
THE cost of car insurance has been one of the biggest gripes for Irish motorists, and while many say their premiums now have stabilised, or even reduced, they also report an increase in overall running costs.
In the latest bi-annual motoring report from carzone.ie, 61% said that keeping their cars on the road had got more expensive in the last year, with almost one in three saying they spend €250 or more a month on running costs. Besides insurance, the biggest concerns are fuel costs and maintenance.
The survey of 1,600 drivers also shows that two-thirds say they are considering buying a hybrid or fully electric car in the near future, with the Nissan LEAF and Tesla Model S the most searched on the Carzone website. Over four-fifths knew the difference between the two powertrains (I must know very few of them, because it’s the question I most often am asked), and six in ten knew where their nearest charging points were located. Cheaper fuel was the main reason for changing, with environmental concerns not far behind.
Given that over half of parents spend more than two hours a day behind the wheel, it’s no surprise that the premium German brands are the most searched on the website – who wouldn’t want a little luxury while stuck in traffic?
We’re also territorial about showing our colours, with 39% saying they would prefer registration plates from their own counties when buying second-hand.
When it comes to choosing family cars, cost and safety were the key considerations, while size mattered to one in five. It also is a joint decision, with 58% saying both partners agreed on the purchase.
We might be aware of our counties, but we’re not entirely patriotic. Three in five motorists would consider importing a car from the UK, though a high percentage also said it was too much hassle. I know someone who did it recently and there certainly are anomalies. Revenue give you 30 days to pay the VRT and re-register the vehicle, but her insurance company covers cars with UK plates for only 21 days. There’s another fine example of the usual joined-up Irish thinking.