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How much does a car cost?

6 replies

ButterPie · 09/03/2010 13:08

How much would it be to run a car? Just roughly? Starting to get annoyed at public transport, even though I enjoy using it, it is just so impractical to get two kids anywhere on time. Considering getting a driving licence and car. I am SAHM to two under threes and take them on various activities, also my parents live miles away and I like to visit about every six weeks or so, which is easy enough when my Dad can give us a lift, but he now has a job so might not be able to.

Plus, surely it is worse for the enivironment, for example, for my Dad to do a total of four journeys every time we visit (to pick us up, and then to take us home) than for me to just drive us there and back?

...OK, I admit I know I SHOULDN'T get a car, environmentally and socially speaking, but I think life would be so much easier...

I spent over £10 yesterday on public transport, and still managed to get lost. The journeys would have taken about half an hor in total in a car.

How much is it to run a car then? I am 25 and have two years no claims from riding a motorbike in my youth, and have got as far as failing a test in previous attempts to get a driving licence, if that is relevant. DP is 34 and has never had a lesson, but not sure we would even bother having him as a driver as he is at work all day anyway.

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ButterPie · 09/03/2010 13:26

:/ Just did a quote online, pretending I was insuring myself for my sister's car, and it would cost the same as our bus tickets just for insurance. Oh well, no car for me for now.

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ButterPie · 09/03/2010 13:30

OK, how much is car hire? Maybe I could get a licence, then hire a car for things like the big trips to see my parents.

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ButterPie · 09/03/2010 13:35

Nah, it is cheaper to take the train. Probably quicker too.

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CantSupinate · 09/03/2010 13:38

Offhand, annual fixed costs (apologies 4 extraneous Ã?Â? characters)

VED: £125
Insurance: £250
MOT: £54
Service (every 10,000 miles, let's assume U only do 5k miles/yr, so per yr charge=): £110

Total fixed (without purchase price)=£539

To that add 30p/mile as typical running costs. So 5k miles/yr -> £1500/yr.

So that's £2039 if U do 5000 miles/yr -- not including purchase price.

ps: we just bought a 2nd car for £3k but are having to spend an extra £1100 on it in first 6 weeks of ownership -- cars are expensive beasts!

sb6699 · 09/03/2010 13:40

Unfortunately its a bit like asking how long is a piece of string.

Your insurance would be cheaper if you bought a car with a smaller engine than your sisters and cost alot less. For instance 1 litre Corsa that cost £500 will be alot less than a 2.5 litre BMW that cost £20,000.

Your premium will also go down as your NCB builds up.

Adding a second driver also brings the premium down.

You would also have to factor in the cost of petrol, repairs, road tax, MOT & servicing.

ButterPie · 09/03/2010 14:11

I would have thought that adding a second driver would bring the premium up! Worth bearing in mind...

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