Motorists are paying up to £1,000 more per year to run the same car in some regions compared to others, suggests new research.
Hippo Motor Finance compared various costs associated with car ownership, from the average cost of buying a used car to insurance, fuel and repairs.
Scotland came out as the cheapest place to buy and run a car, with Scots spending typically £1,000 less compared to car owners in the south of England.
It will come as no surprise that London takes the top spot for the most expensive region to own and run a car. The UK’s capital delivers big prices to motorists with drivers in the city paying considerably higher than other regions.
What will be a surprise though, is that London didn’t come out as the most expensive place to buy a car – that prize goes to the South East.
Other findings that came out from the research include the fact that the North West came out cheapest for fuel, while the North East was the cheapest for car repairs.
When it comes to car insurance the findings also revealed some stark differences in costs, with men paying up to 34% more for their car insurance compared to women.
Cheapest and most expensive regions to own and run a car
Region Overall costs:
Scotland
Wales £9,324.50
South West £9,341.99
North East £9,363.80
North West £9,464.76
South East £9,726.34
Midlands £9,760.11
London
“While paying more based on location isn’t something that can be remedied easily, the differing costs for repairs and buying a car help to really highlight the savings that can be made just by doing a bit more research or shopping around,” said Fahad Hussain of Hippo Motor Finance.
“Taking the time to look at the amount you’re paying for keeping your car on the roads and looking for simple ways to save money, such as where you buy petrol or shopping around more for an insurance quote, can equate to several smaller savings that quickly add up.”
