Insurance premiums remain the number one financial concern for Irish motorists according to the latest Motoring Report from car buying experts Carzone. Fuel was the second biggest concern, followed by motor tax.
The report found that that three in four Irish people have noticed an increase in their insurance premium in the last year and a third have downgraded their policy due to the cost.
A little more than a third spend between €120 and €200 running their car each month, while 15 per cent say they spend in excess of €300 per month keeping their car on the road. More than half believe the cost of running their car has increased in the last year.
The demand for electric cars is increasing in Ireland, with 16 per cent of those surveyed saying they would consider buying an electric car in the near future.
The new zero percent rate of Benefit-in-Kind (BIK ) incentive on electric vehicles makes them more attractive for businesses. Being kind to the environment was the number one reason why people would switch to an electric car, but a lack of available charging points was the key factor in not making the switch.
82 per cent say they do not have access to a charging point at their workplace and just 30 per cent of those living rurally have a charging station less than 5km away.
More than a third (34 per cent ) of motorists polled have seen their commute time increase during the last 12 months, with one in five spending over an hour commuting to work each day. Almost three quarters (72 per cent ) travel to work in their car and 88 per cent use their car every day.
Ireland's firm favourites
The Volkswagen Golf remains the most searched for car on Carzone, which is clearly a firm favourite for Irish drivers. The most searched for new car continues to be the 172 Mercedes Benz-E Class. Black remains the most popular colour choice, followed closely by white and blue.
As the interest in electric and hybrid cars continues to grow, the most popular electric and hybrid makes and models searched are the Hyundai IONIQ and the Toyota Auris.
