Clare – Page 13 – PetrolPrices

With fuel prices at a record high – should you sell your car?

Apr 13, 2022

How has the recent fuel duty cut impacted prices?

Recent research published by the RAC, showed that the government’s fuel duty cut, introduced in March 2022, would lower the cost of filling an average family petrol car from £92 to £89 and see a reduction from £98 to £95 for family diesel cars.

Whilst this marginal fuel cut is unlikely to deliver a significant impact on family budgets, the RAC report also makes it clear that it relies on fuel retailers reducing their prices, rather than just retaining the extra profit for themselves.

Before the budget announcement, the RAC had been calling on the government to make a VAT cut instead – which would have ensured that the additional money was passed on to drivers.

Why is fuel so expensive now?

Fuel prices are at a record high due to an increase in the price of crude oil. The price of petrol and diesel began to increase at the start of the Covid pandemic as the demand for energy rose.

The ongoing Ukrainian crisis is also a major factor in the recent price rise. Russia is one of the largest producers of oil and gas – and international sanctions levied on the nation have caused disruptions to its production processes and meant that many Western European countries are looking to buy oil and gas elsewhere.

Will the price of fuel come down again?

This is not clear – as it largely depends on supply and demand in the world energy market. Though, whilst the Ukrainian and Russian war continues, supply is liable to remain low.

The UK government’s recent fuel tax reduction means the average family car will be £3.30 cheaper to fill up – but only when forecourts restock. This is assuming that the cut is passed on to the consumer.

Whilst petrol and diesel price increases are expected to slow down in the short term, it is likely that the price of oil will continue to elevate, which is likely to exacerbate things for UK petrol and diesel car drivers in the long-term.

Should I sell my fossil fuel car?

Well, it could be a good time. As well as fuel prices reaching a historic high, if you’re the owner of a petrol or diesel vehicle right now, you’re also faced with the looming electric switchover in 2030.

Many experts are predicting that sales of cars with internal combustion engines (petrol or diesel) have already peaked in the UK, and prices will continue to fall as we get nearer the end of the decade. And with zero-emission restrictions coming into force around the world, you’re unlikely to be the only person currently questioning their fossil fuel car ownership.

Where should I sell my fossil fuel car?

If you want to avoid rising fuel prices and the cost of entering zero-emissions areas, or if you’re thinking about beating the rush and trading up to an electric or hybrid vehicle before the 2030 switchover, you can still get a good price for your fossil fuel car with Motorway.

Motorway looked at how people sell cars – and have made something better. We can help you find a buyer for your car in as little as 24 hours and making a car profile on the platform takes a matter of minutes. We’ll add your car to one of our daily sales, where dealers compete against one another. If they want your car, they’ll give it their best price. That means you always get a great deal.

One in three parents pay for the entirety of their child’s driving lessons

Apr 13, 2022

According to comparethemarket.com research, one-third of parents pay for all of their child’s driving lessons – costing an average of £1,159 per child
Two in three parents have financially contributed to their child’s driving lessons
Across the UK, parents in Leeds are most likely to pay for all of their child’s driving lessons
Survey shows parents contribute an average of £3,528 to their child’s first car

New research has revealed that one third (34%) of parents pay for the entirety of their children’s driving lessons, with an average cost of £1,159 per child.

68% of parents have financially contributed to their child’s driving lessons

The survey, conducted by comparethemarket.com, found that two in three (68%) parents financially contributed in some way to their child’s driving lessons. Almost half of parents funded their contribution from savings (48%), while 44% used funds from the household budget.

Parents living in Leeds, Cardiff, and London were found to be the most likely to cover the entire cost of their child’s driving lessons.

City	% of parents who paid for all of their children’s driving lessons
Leeds	40.1%
Cardiff	39.8%
London	38.5%
Belfast	38.2%
Manchester	37.7%

UK parents contribute an average of £3,528 to their child’s first car

When it comes to first cars, it was found that over half (54%) of parents admit to helping with the cost in some way, with more than a quarter (28%) covering the entire cost, at an average of £3,528.

Two thirds (67%) use savings to help with the cost of their child’s first car. While one in ten (10%) parents borrow money to help cover the cost, using loans (5%), credit cards (3%) or money borrowed from friends and family (3%) to help meet the expense.

Parents in Cardiff and Glasgow were found to be most likely to cover the entire cost of their children’s first car, where one in three (34%) make this generous purchase, followed by parents in London (31%).

When analysing the cities that contribute the highest sum towards their child’s first car, parents in Sheffield paid an average of £4,544, over £1,000 more than the average contribution of £3,528 across the UK.

City	Average amount parents contribute to their child’s first car
Sheffield	£4,544
Edinburgh	£4,230
Birmingham	£4,009
Newcastle	£3,802
London	£3,779

One in four (26%) parents paid for their child’s road tax in the first year

The study found that many parents also contribute to their child’s initial on-the-road costs, with 18% of parents admitting to contributing to MOT, Tax, services and fuel until their child can financially afford it themselves.

Alex Hasty, director at comparethemarket.com adds: “The cost of insurance for new drivers is exceptionally high when compared to that of more experienced drivers, costing an average of £565 more than the average insurance premium.

“Therefore, it’s not surprising to see that so many parents are financially contributing towards their child’s first year of car insurance, in fact 17% of parents in a recent survey said they will continue to contribute until their child can financially afford it themself. It’s really important for new drivers to use comparison services such as ours to help find the right policy for them and to check for any potential savings.’’

To view the full research, please visit comparethemarket.com: https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/tank-of-mum-and-dad/

MFG is planning to end the sale of auto-LPG on its forecourts

Apr 6, 2022

The Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the largest independent forecourt operator in the UK, has said that supplying auto-LPG is no longer commercially viable. The company plans to remove auto-LPG from all its forecourts by 2024.

MFG had to announce its plans through the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) because of the preliminary investigation by the CMA into the purchase of Morrisons Supermarkets and forecourts by MFG’s US private equity owners.

The CMA reported that “MFG submits that auto-LPG is no longer an important product category for modern petrol station forecourt businesses due to a continued industry-wide decrease in demand. This decrease in demand means that revenues are low and will continue to decline, thereby making any continued investments, including periodic testing of the facilities, commercially unviable. Accordingly, MFG plans to remove auto-LPG from all of its sites between 2022 and 2024.”

MFG intends to replace its auto-LPG facilities with Electric Vehicle rapid charging hubs and other services, such as grocery offerings or car wash facilities. MFG currently has over 200 150kW chargers on its sites and has plans to electrify its network of over 900 forecourts.

The decision by MFG follows Shell’s decision two years ago to end its joint venture with Calor and decommission its LPG refuelling network. At the time, a spokesperson for the joint venture said, “Customer demand for LPG for domestic transportation has declined due to changing customer preferences and the increasing availability of other lower-carbon fuels.”

Over 1,000 sites in the UK still stock auto-LPG, but it only makes up around 0.2% of UK road fuel demand. Estimates of the number of LPG fuelled vehicles on UK roads are around 100,000. The UK government will phase out the sale of new vehicles powered by autogas. No manufacturers sell pure auto-LPG vehicles in the UK, which means the only way to use it is to convert an engine or install an LPG engine to work in a bi-fuel system.

What is the best way to sell your car?

Mar 23, 2022

Selling your car privately

Selling a car privately can involve anything from putting a car ad in a local newspaper to placing up a note on your dashboard. However, these days, sellers will typically use online platforms that will present their car advert to hundreds of thousands of people.

Despite this, there are no guarantees with this method – and it is usually one of the most time-consuming options for selling. For best results, you will need to craft an advert that will make your ad stand out in a crowded marketplace. If you find that you’re not getting any interest, there are usually options to get you more visibility – though these can be pricey.

When your car ad does get responses, you will need to take time to respond to calls and emails from potential buyers. Taking time out of your work day to do so, and then after work to show them your car – that’s if they show up!

Private sales are a very hands-on method. There’s also no guarantee that the sale will come off. If it does, however, you are more likely to get a better price for your car than with other means of selling.

Pros: Usually a high price
Cons: Time-consuming, no guarantees, paying for extra visibility

Part-exchange your car

This used to be the most common way of selling your existing car in order to trade up to a newer model. Car dealers were happy to take your unwanted car off your hands as long as you were paying for a new one at the same time. This was often seen as a better option than selling your car privately.

However, when you part-exchange a car, the price you will get for it will typically be much lower than you would usually get from a private sale.

As it is up to the dealer’s discretion whether or not to include your old car as partial payment towards a new one, it can be difficult to negotiate a better price.

Pros: An easy and hassle-free option
Cons: A low price that is hard to negotiate

Selling to an instant car-buyer

If you are keen to offload your car and aren’t really worried about the money, you can sell via a car-buying website. This is an easy option. After you’ve received your valuation online, you then need to take the car for an inspection at one of their drop off points.

Your valuation could be on the low side, and when you take the car to the inspection, you may find the price offered is further reduced.

Bodywork scratches and other minor damage will often impact the price at the last minute, especially if it was not previously disclosed online. Therefore, the valuation price will often be different to the price offered following the instant car-buyer’s inspection.

Pros: Quick sale
Cons: Can be a low price, which can be reduced upon inspection

Selling your car with Motorway

A simple way of ensuring that you get a competitive price for your car is using Motorway – a free online service that will put your car in front of thousands of verified dealers, who will compete to give you the best price for your car.

Simply enter your car’s reg on Motorway’s website and you will be provided with an instant valuation. They’ll then ask you a few easy questions about your car and guide you through the photos you need to take to complete your car profile. It can be done right from your phone – in a matter of minutes.

They will then enter your car into their daily sale, where over 5,000+ dealers compete to buy your car, offering you their best price. You will receive your best offer – and, if you choose to go ahead with the sale, your car will be collected for free by the dealer and the money will be quickly transferred to your bank account.

Pros: A quick, easy, and free sale; giving you the highest price from a network of verified car dealers
Cons: You might make more selling privately

Fuel Duty Cut by 5 Pence Per Litre

Mar 23, 2022

The chancellor, Rushi Sunak, announced that fuel duty will be cut by 5ppl at 6 pm on the 23rd March. This fuel cut will reduce the excise duty on road fuels from 57.95ppl to 52.95ppl. This is the first change in fuel duty since March 2011.

This deduction in fuel duty occurs before VAT is applied, so the overall effect of this reduction is 6ppl, with VAT being applied at 20%.

Crude Oil prices hit an eight-year high earlier in March 2022, which in turn saw petrol and diesel prices rise sharply. Crude Oil prices have dropped back to $112 per barrel from $130 in early March; however petrol and diesel prices at the pumps remain high, with the average reported prices of £1.66 and £1.78 respectively.

When will I see the change?

The excise duty takes effect at 6pm on the 23rd March 2022. However, you may not see this at the pumps straight away.

The fuel currently in forecourts around the UK has already had the excise duty paid on it; as such, the forecourts can’t discount the price you will pay straight away without hitting their profit margin. There is also fuel stored within the UK, in fuel storage facilities, that will also have had the duty applied, and so this will also not benefit from the reduced rate.

Only fuel that hasn’t had the duty applied will be able to take advantage of this reduction straight away, so depending on where you are within the UK will depend on when you are likely to see these reductions.

This is likely to lead to more widespread pricing at forecourts, as current stock levels within the supply chain will significantly affect the price at the pump. This is on top of a volatile market that has already seen the spread of pricing at forecourts widen.

The chancellor, Rushi Sunak, announced that fuel duty will be cut by 5ppl at 6pm on the 23rd March. This fuel cut will reduce the excise duty on road fuels from 57.95ppl to 52.95ppl. This is the first change in fuel duty since March 2011. This deduction in fuel duty occurs before VAT is applied, so the overall effect of this reduction is 6ppl, with VAT being applied at 20%.

« Older Entries

Next Entries »