The biggest day-to-day financial headache for many people trying to stretch their money and live within their means is the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
So what can ordinary private motorists do to reduce the pain of buying and running a family car? Quite a lot, in my view.
When shopping for a new car, get confirmation of its insurance group before you sign anything, and obtain written quotes for the full cost of cover. It also makes sense to lower your estimated annual mileage, because in an era of online meetings, home delivery and entertainment streamed straight to your devices, most people no longer need to drive as much as they once did.
The purchase price and future resale value should be top priorities, along with insurance and fuel or electricity costs. To limit worries over servicing, repairs and eventual MoT bills, look at brands and models with strong Driver Power reliability, quality and satisfaction scores. It is also worth checking the warranty terms: why choose 36 months if seven- or eight-year cover is now available?
If the model you want comes from a manufacturer that has recently imposed steep price rises, you can either walk away, push for a big discount, or choose a similar car from a rival brand. Whichever car you buy, and whatever its age or powertrain, try to avoid peak-time traffic. Driving outside rush hour can mean better journey times and improved fuel economy.
Choosing the cheapest product is not always the smartest move, but neither is opting for the most expensive. A phone, for example, is essential in the car, but the latest versions costing around £2,000 are excessive. The same applies to premium cars in the £100,000 to £200,000 range. If you have that kind of money, a genuine supercar may be a better place to put it, especially if it could hold or even increase its value over time.
At the opposite end of the scale, daily drivers should resist the habit of buying takeaway coffee or tea on every journey. I stopped doing that in 2015, and since then the roughly £10 a day I have saved has added up to about £3,000 a year. That has left me with enough money to buy a brand-new, properly discounted family car before the end of 2026. And I will. More on that soon.
Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express? We’ll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too.
Mike was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988. He has also served as motoring editor at four tabloid newspapers: the London Evening News, The Sun, the News of the World and the Daily Mirror. In addition, he wrote weekly columns for the Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Sunday Times.
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