SAVVY MOTORISTS CUT COSTS NOT COVER
Britons using credit crunch driving habits to save the pounds
August 09
Most Britons are finding savvy ways to cut their motoring
costs in the recession without taking risks with their car
insurance cover according to new findings* released today
from eco car insurance provider ibuyeco.
had chosen to use ‘smoother’ driving methods, such as
accelerating and breaking more gently, in order to save money
over the last 12 months.
Additionally, a third of drivers (35%) made sure they kept the
tyres pumped up with air while 34 per cent chose to turn off
the air-conditioning when driving. A further 31 per cent kept the
boot light in an effort to make their fuel go further and keep
costs down.
While motorists are altering their driving habits to keep the costs
down, they aren’t taking risks with their cover, according to the
study from ibuyeco. Only one in ten (12 per cent) had considered
reducing the level of motor insurance cover while of that 12 per
cent, only a third of them actually made the reduction. Reducing
your level of cover could prove to be more costly in the long term
if you’re not properly covered.
Lucy Bailey, Senior Marketing Manager at Ibuyeco, says, “It is great
to see that British motorists have been so savvy in the current
economic downturn by taking measures to reduce their driving costs
without taking risks with their cover. Savings from even small
adjustments in the way you drive can soon add up but it is not just
good for the pocket. Many of these habits, such as car sharing and
switching off the engine in traffic jams, are also good for
the environment.”
“Interestingly a quarter (27%) of motorists could still be making
savings as they claimed they hadn’t made any changes in their
driving behaviour over the last 12 months.”
While British motorists were not reducing their main cover it was
the extra insurance benefits that they were more likely to cut,
according to the research. A third (32 per cent) said they’d
avoided adding extras to the insurance such as Motor Legal
Protection or breakdown cover.
Lucy Bailey continues, “While the nation is trying to save on
expense in these tough times sometimes cutting back on extras
such as breakdown cover can be a false economy. A few pounds
saved on the extras could cost much as £277** for a truck to
tow you and your car home.”
For more information, contact Laura Johnston or Izzy Shirley in the
ibuyeco press office on 020 7492 0977 or email ibuyeco@77pr.co.uk.
*Survey carried out by YouGov, on behalf of ibuyeco in August 2009
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample
size was 2082 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 17th – 19th
August 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been
weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
- YouGov is registered with the Information Commissioner
- YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council
**Based on £150 Highway Agency cost to tow from motorway and Association of Vehicle
Recovery Operators recommended cost for night call-out and 40-mile recovery for 2008.