AXA Insurance Northern Ireland Blog

Drivers hoping to save money on their running costs often consider purchasing a diesel vehicle in order to reduce the amount they spend on fuel bills and servicing.

Those who buy new models from the showroom may also find that they can attract a higher price later when they come to sell them on, as research from British Car Auctions (BCA) has revealed that diesel autos will attract a premium.

According to the body, an average diesel-powered vehicle will sell for around £1,600 more than one that runs on petrol, despite the fact they tend to have a higher mileage when they come up for sale.

Communications director at the BCA Tony Gannon said high prices at the pump may be one factor in influencing people’s choice of car, but it is not the only one.

“Our research for the Used Car Market Report shows that they also value diesel’s perceived relative economy in terms of miles per gallon and lower servicing costs,” he stated.

Recently, it was noted by the AA that people are favouring lower value vehicles when they make a purchase.

 Northern Ireland drivers according to the AAA are concerned about the condition of the roads in the country, and the damage to vehicles caused by problems such as potholes.

According to a poll conducted by the AA, 76 per cent of respondents stated that the quality of surfaces has deteriorated in the past three years, with almost half saying the amount of degradation is significant.

However, Northern Ireland’s roads did perform better than many other parts of the UK in the survey, which found Scotland has the worst highway network, with over nine out of ten people saying that it is a growing problem.

Commenting on the findings, president of the AA Edmund King stated: “We have to keep up the battle against this blight which damages cars and risks road safety.”

He also called for an improved long-term maintenance strategy and extra money to tackle the issue.

People in the UK consider car insurance to be their number one driving concern, a new poll has found.

Visitors to honestjohn.co.uk cited the cost of running a car as their top priority during the last three months of 2010, the company stated, with insurance being followed in the poll by smaller cars, as individuals look for vehicles that are cheaper to operate.

Editor of the website Dan Harrison said it is “unsurprising” that in a period when costs are rising, ways to make driving a less expensive activity are foremost in people’s minds.

The extreme weather that was experienced across the UK at the time of the survey was also reflected, as winter tyres were an issue which was on the minds of many of the site’s visitors.

Other concerns for drivers in the last quarter of 2010 included dealers, warranties and the effect of snow on the roads, the survey revealed.

Recently, a poll conducted by the AA revealed many people are also worried about the condition of the highways, with three-quarters of respondents saying the state of surfaces in their area has worsened in the last three years.

Of course another way to cut your motoring costs would be to insure with AXA. Recent independent online research showed that insuring with AXA saved an average of £139 compared to other Northern Ireland insurers.  (The average saving was achieved in a whopping 35% of cases).

 Ever feel that you are literally being taken for a ride when you go to fill up your car at the forecourt?

The AA stated that if a two pence drop in the market cost of a litre of petrol had reached consumers, it would have compensated for January’s VAT increase, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

Prices for fuel in Northern Ireland are something of a “postcode lottery”, the organisation added, with average costs being four pence per litre higher than some other parts of the UK.

Edmund King, president of the AA, called for information on wholesale prices to be made publicly available in order to encourage transparency in the market.

AXA’s top tip to reducing fuel costs – use an online comparison tool like the one at www.petrolprices.com. It works well right across Northern Ireland, for example, my search today listed 5 different garages in the Omagh area, showing and where to get the cheapest fuel. This search highlighted a 5p difference in the cost per litre for diesel which means you could save up to £3 on filling an average 60 litre tank.

Of course another way to cut your motoring costs would be to insure with AXA. Recent independent online research showed that insuring with AXA saved an average of £139 compared to other Northern Ireland insurers.  (The average saving was achieved in a whopping 35% of cases).