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OVER half of Kerry motorists have reported an increase in car running cost in the last year with insurance premiums and fuel costs the key issues the county’s car owners.
This is according to the latest Motoring Report from car buying experts Carzone where it was also revealed having the the registration plate as ‘KY’ also mattered a great dea.
The bi-annual report which examines trends in the Irish motoring market finds that 55% of Kerry motorists say their running costs have increased in the last 12 months with 19% stating they spend upwards of €250 per month on keeping their vehicle on the road.
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The key findings for Kerry are;
• 55% of Kerry motorists have reported an increase in running costs in the last year
• Almost 1 in 5 (19%) spend over €250 on car running costs
• Insurance is still the top concern in Kerry despite 39% seeing a decrease or no change in their premium
• Almost half of parents spend more than two hours driving each day
• Cost and safety are the top concerns for parents when it comes to purchasing a family car
• Almost two thirds (65%) plan to buy an electric or hybrid car in the near future
• 53% prefer a number plate from the county they are from
• A third (33%) would pay a deposit for a car online and 83% would pay a deposit online up to the value of €1k
•52% feel that there should be a mandatory retest for everyone over 70
The Carzone Motoring Report is compiled by analysing data from the 77 million+ searches carried out on Carzone from January to June of this year, as well as an in-depth survey of 1,600 Irish motorists.
Insurance remains the top financial concern for 63% of Kerry car owners. 16% cite the cost of fuel as a worry while 5% say general maintenance of their car is a financial concern.
Although insurance comes out as the top concern, over a third (39%) say their insurance premium has either decreased or remained the same in the last 12 months. 76% also say they have not switched insurance company in the last year opting to stay with their current provider.
Given that many Kerry motorists are reporting a rise in running costs, 36% of those questioned say cheaper running costs is their number one incentive for making the switch from petrol or diesel. Being kinder to the environment was the second most popular reason (46%).
Although 68% of those polled in Kerry would travel for more than two hours to purchase a car, it seems that where that car is from is important.
Indicating that county pride is alive and well among Kerry motorists, over half (53%) say that they prefer to buy a car with a registration plate with the county they are from.
In fact, so important is the registration plate to motorists that 56% claim that registration plates from different counties impact the value of the car.
New to the report this year is a section on families and cars. Starting a family is often a key catalyst for changing a car.
When asked what the most important factors are for parents in Kerry choosing a car, cost and safety were the key decision factors (38% and 19%). 23% say that the size of the car impacts their choice. When it comes to purchasing a family car, it’s a joint decision for over half of those questioned (58%).
The Carzone Motoring Report also finds that Kerry parents spend a lot of time in their car with 54% stating they spend more than two hours a day driving their family around.
The report reveals that two thirds (68%) of respondents who sat their driving test over 10 years ago passed it first time around, while 58% of drivers who took the test within the past 5 years needed two or more attempts to succeed. The research also finds that 57% of those who have a provisional licence have renewed it more than three times. When it comes to elderly road users, the report finds that over half (54%) of those polled think there should be a mandatory retest for everyone over 70.
According to the Carzone Motoring Report, nearly a quarter (24%) of Kerry motorists intend to buy a car in the next year. The key reasons for buying a new car are that they simply wanted a newer or more reliable car or they needed a larger car to accommodate their growing family.
Almost half (43%) have considered buying a car from the UK and 69% would consider purchasing in the UK in the future because of the price. However, 62% say that the biggest deterrent to car shopping in the UK is that it’s too much hassle.
While most cars are still purchased in dealerships or private sale, motorists have become more open to buying a car outright online. Over three quarters (83%) say they would pay up to a €1,000 deposit online for a car while 19% would be open to paying for a car in full online.
The main reasons for not buying a car online include the risk involved and the desire to see and test drive the car before making a purchase.
