| The cost of running the average family car in | | | | cost of running a car for a year. |
| Ireland has dropped by over EUR1000 since last | | | | One motoring expert said, "The fuel cost |
| year according to the findings of a new survey | | | | reduction is the big factor and is clearly good |
| looking into car expense. | | | | news but remember that last summer we had a |
| Factors such as the historically low interest rates | | | | fuel crisis before we had a credit crunch with |
| helped, which meant that across a wide range of | | | | record high prices. Although we have seen prices |
| car models, the price for new cars did not | | | | rise since January, they are nowhere near as high |
| increase overall and in some cases prices actually | | | | as they were last year. In June 2008, petrol cost |
| fell. | | | | 130.5 cent per litre, it has fallen to 116 cent. That |
| There have also been small reductions in the cost | | | | difference alone saves the average motorist over |
| of things like servicing a vehicle and parking costs, | | | | EUR18 per month." |
| which have both been in line with the overall | | | | The figures were based on cars that use petrol |
| inflation figure for the year. | | | | and do not include vehicles that use diesel, which |
| A family in tax category 'Band C' that runs a car | | | | account for 18 per cent of private cars on |
| with an engine size of 1251-1500cc, is now | | | | Ireland's roads. As diesel prices have enjoyed the |
| spending just EUR11,156 a year, which works out | | | | most dramatic reduction in price, this number is |
| as a decrease of EUR1,049 compared to the | | | | certain to rise over time. |
| figure for 2008. | | | | The retail price of diesel fell from a record high of |
| However, it is believed that the most significant | | | | 142.9 cent last year, down to 104 cent. This |
| reason for car running costs to have fallen is a | | | | means diesel users are paying EUR48 less per |
| reduction in the price of unleaded petrol, making | | | | month compared to this time last year, making |
| things like car insurance more affordable. This cut | | | | diesel powered cars a very appealing option for |
| in petrol prices has made life a bit easier for | | | | many road users. |
| families and has helped with the overall drop in | | | | |