Once you have bought your car, you have to keep it running and on the road and it’s important to seriously consider and understand how much this is going to cost in the long run.
There are four main elements of cost to consider.
Vehicle Excise Duty
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) (also known as vehicle tax, car tax, and incorrectly as road tax), is a tax that is levied as an excise duty and which must be paid to the DVLA for most types of vehicle which are to be used (or parked) on the public roads in the United Kingdom.
A guide to VED is available at MoneyHelper
You can tax your car online at this link.
To check whether your vehicle is taxed follow this link.
Staturory Off Road Notification
You need to notify the DVLA when you take a vehicle ‘off the road’ if, for example it’s in a garage, on a drive or on private land and you want to stop taxing and insuring it. This is called a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
Details of when and how to make SORN are available at:
Motor Insurance
You must have vehicle insurance to drive your vehicle on UK roads.
Third party insurance is the legal minimum. This means you’re covered if you have an accident causing damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property. It doesn’t cover any other costs like repair to your own vehicle.
A full guide to Motor Insurance is available here.
MOT Test Certificate
The MOT test (or simply MOT) is an annual test of vehicle safety, roadworthiness aspects and exhaust emissions required in Great Britain for most vehicles over three years old used on any road.
Full details of when and how to get an MOT and how much it will cost are available at GOV.UK.
Running a car
A series of guides to help you understand all aspects of running your car are available at the following lings:
Details of what to do if you have a problem with a car repair are available from Citizens Advice.
Guides to saving fuel while driving are available at the following links:
Find the cheapest petrol near you at this link.
Maintaining a car
Maintaining your car properly including regular servicing is imperative to keeping it in good, reliable working condition and hold its value. It also helps to ensure your safety and the safety of your passengers & other drivers on the road.
Information and advice on maintaining your car is available at:
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