October 16, 2004

Driving Costs Up

I seem to be reading a lot about the price of gasoline in the US and how the average price may top $2 a gallon by this weekend. I wish I could be more sympathetic, but at over $5 a gallon here, I'm afraid you have a long way to go. The equivalent of $20 today got me about a quarter of a tank. I usually spend about $75 to fill up my small car. Combine that with filling up Mrs H's car, and petrol is one of the most significant portions of our budget.

The car insurance is now due for renewal. Thankfully, we only have to insure Mrs H's car. Due to my accident-free record for many years and my age, we only pay around $750-$800 per year on a four-year-old small family car.

Road tax is another $300 per year.

Operating a motor vehicle in this country is not cheap. Necessary, given the lack of public transport. but not cheap.

Posted by david at October 16, 2004 02:43 AM | TrackBack
Comments

I've heard that gasoline costs in England and European countries is astronomical. $75! That's insane. Is it true that one can get around easier than in the US though, without a car? That shops etc. are closer to home? Things are so spread out in the US, as you know. We are spoiled, though, I'll give you that.

Posted by: philippa at October 18, 2004 09:26 PM

Depending on your location, you may be able to get around without a car. Here in the Shire it is much more difficult, as we are the most rural county in England.

Typically once you are in town, you can park and do all of your shopping without moving your vehicle. Plus, with the cost of parking as high as it is, you generally don't want to move your car until you have gotten your full money's worth out of the pay-and-display, as these are not transferrable, even from one council carpark to another.

Britain does have more public transport than in the states, except for maybe the Northeast or Chicago. Out in the sticks it isn't particularly effective.

Posted by: Dave at October 19, 2004 03:15 AM

If it's any consolation, we've been hovering around $2/gallon here in Oregon for a good long while. It went up to $2.25, then back to where you could find it at $1.95, and now--well, now I'm riding the bus, so I haven't put gas in my car for a couple of weeks.

Portland does have a good bus and train system--one of the benefits of living on the Left Coast.

Posted by: Jan at October 21, 2004 05:55 AM