When buying a car, most people focus on which makes and models might suit, the image they project and what sort of driving experience they offer. Many fewer look in detail at how much the car will actually cost to run. Yet it can vary a surprising amount, even between similar cars.
Running costs and price-per-mile tables for cars currently on the market can be found in several car magazines. But these aren't much use if you're looking at anything other than 'nearly new' cars. So make a few calls.
First see how much the insurance would cost for your car options. As well as where you live and more obvious features of a car like age and engine size, quotes are based on a variety of other factors like crash safety, security against break-ins, anti-theft devices and expense to repair. This means costs could vary by over a hundred pounds between even similar cars. So choosing with insurance costs in mind could net you a very handy saving.
Click on some of the links to well-known insurance providers that we've put together below to get a selection of quotes and see how much insurance costs vary. Or you can see graphics showing the current offers from each company on our research car insurance page.
Admiral
/ Barclays
/ Budget
/ Diamond
/ Direct
Line /
Elephant.co.uk
/
Endsleigh / eSure
/ Green
Insurance Co
Halifax
/ Ibuyeco
/ Kwik
Fit / Marks
& Spencer /
More
Th>n / Natwest
/ Norwich
Union /
Post Office / Privilege
/ RAC
/ Sheila's
Wheels / Swinton
/ Tesco
/ Yes
Next call your nearest franchised dealer for the car makes you're considering and ask how much a standard service costs. You mightn't ever get one, but it'll given a useful general idea of a car's servicing costs.
Also
make a list of a few parts and get some prices: say, an alternator, an
electric window motor, a headlight unit or a door mirror. Again, you might never
need these particular bits, but comparing prices will give you an idea how costly
different makes are likely to be for any repairs they may need along the way.
Similarly, check
out how much a new exhaust and tyres will cost.
