63% of motorists ditching the car due to pricier fuel

By John Simpson 28 June 2012

Fill it up Fuel prices have forced nearly two thirds of motorists to cut back on how much they use their car, according to a new survey.

In the wake of August’s fuel duty rise postponement, British Car Auctions (BCA) says that 63% of the 817 respondents cited the cost of fuel as their biggest motoring concern.

“Our research shows that the cost of fuel remains the top priority for motorists, with many changing the way they drive to maximise their fuel efficiency,” said BCA spokesman Tim Naylor.

“With this in mind, the postponement of the fuel duty increase combined with a general reduction in fuel prices in recent weeks will come as a relief to many motorists.”

Nearly half of respondents have started walking more while a third said they had been making greater use of public transport.

Fill it up

Despite concerns over fuel prices, 94% of those surveyed said they still use their car every day while 65% still fill up the tank when they go to the petrol station.

South West motorists top the table in filling up their tank at 70.2%, closely followed by drivers in the South East at 70.1%.

London motorists were the least likely to fill up their tank at 56.4%, reflecting on stronger public transport links in the capital.

Tim Naylor concluded: “At BCA, we have seen increased demand for smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles, as UK households look to cut their motoring costs and consequently values have tended to rise for these more economical cars.”


Categories: Fleet news , British Car Auctions

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