Drivers face huge spike in costs with new Low Emission Zones, rising fuel prices and insurance woes

In 2024, four Low Emission Zones in Scotland are confirmed to begin enforcement and charging motorists to drive in the city centre.

Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh will all begin charging motorists to enter certain parts of the city at the end of May and beginning of June, while Glasgow will extend enforcement to charge residents.

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A vehicle can drive inside the LEZ if they meet certain emissions standards, namely Euro 4 for petrol cars and Euro 6 for diesel vehicles.

If a car or van does not adhere to the emissions standards, they will be hit with a £60 fine, which is reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days.

Two-thirds of drivers are also assuming that car insurance prices will rise, as will the price of a set of tyres.

Car insurance prices have been rising rapidly in recent years, with some drivers being quoted a mind-blowing £5,000 to cover their car for a year.

Commenting on the research, Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said an increase in motoring costs could be inevitable.

He added: “As part of the general cost of living crisis, people have seen the cost of motoring rise substantially since the pandemic and our research shows that they very much expect this trend to increase in every area.

“Perhaps the only small point of optimism is that only just over half think that petrol costs will rise, suggesting there is an expectation that the shock in prices caused by the war in Ukraine is now largely over.”

The survey found 55 per cent of drivers believe the price of fuel will increase further in the coming year.

According to RAC Fuel Watch, the average price for a litre of petrol in the UK is 156.69p per litre, while diesel stands at 162.65p.

Fuel prices have been climbing consistently for months, with experts fearing that prices could spike soon given the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The global cost of a barrel of oil stood could soon hit or even surpass $100 (£81.36) with uncertainty around oil exporting countries potentially reducing production.

Drivers were also hammered by supermarkets and retailers profiting from high oil prices by artificially inflating the price of petrol and diesel at forecourts.

A report from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) slammed the four largest supermarkets for taking advantage of drivers.

Paul Burgess added: “This shows that it is not just the cost of running a car but of buying and financing one that is expected to increase.

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“Certainly, it feels that consumers have a mindset where they just expect prices in general to continue rising.”