Motorists have continued to be hammered by the London Ulez and driving costs with many now having to give up their cars in favour of public transport, according to new research.
The increasing costs of ownership comes as petrol and diesel prices reach unprecedented levels alongside Clean Air Zones and upcoming hikes to vehicle tax.
A recent report found that 24 per cent of respondents identified the high cost of car insurance as a key reason they don’t own, lease or finance a car.
One in five drivers stated the high cost of maintenance and repairs (21 per cent) and the fluctuating price of fuel (20 per cent) as reasons for not owning a vehicle.
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Car tax hikes are expected to come into force in April next year
GETTYThe price of petrol in the UK is currently 136.15p on average while drivers pay 137.69p for diesel, with prices dropping since the beginning of the year.
To help offset the high cost hikes, two-thirds of drivers have asked the new Labour Government for more support with Transport Secretary Louise Haigh promising to investigate rising car insurance premiums and take action on unfair practices in the industry.
Rory Brimmer, head of UK business development at Turo said: “There’s no doubt that Brits today have concerns about the future of driving.
“There are several factors putting pressure on drivers, and action is certainly needed to ensure that motorists are not left behind. At Turo, we hope that by offering a flexible and cost-effective alternative to ownership, we can ease the burden on drivers during this challenging time and offer a practical solution while the Government works to address these broader issues.”
Meanwhile, two-thirds (63 per cent) of drivers said UK roads and potholes are one of the most important issues facing motorists at this time while one in 10 stated it was Ulezand other clean air zones.
However, Turo data revealed that the British public is split on the topic of Ulez, with over half (55 per cent) opposing any more expansions and almost a third (30 per cent) in support.
The targets would mean that by 2035, new car sales for petrol and diesel models would be banned. This date would also see manufacturers forced to have 100 per cent of sales come from zero emission vehicles.
But the move by the Government has been met with criticism from drivers except for 18–24-year-olds who have shown support for the ban.
Over a third (39 per cent) of young drivers support the reinstatement of the 2030 deadline to ban the sale of new combustion engine cars, compared with only 19 per cent of drivers aged 65 and older.
Notably, almost half of Londoners surveyed (46 per cent) support the reinstatement of the ban, compared with less than a quarter (23 per cent) of drivers in the Midlands.
Alexander, a Turo guest from London, said: "I always used to be a car owner, but with road tax, parking, MOT and maintenance costs etc, ownership became prohibitively too expensive and too complicated for me.
“I sold the car, and now rely on a mixture of cycling, public transport and car sharing for longer trips.
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Petrol and diesel prices have fallen since the start of the year
GETTY“I'm conscious of my environmental footprint, Turo fits in with that, and I am pleased to be supporting the sharing economy, where I can give back locally."