Cost of motoring rises £500

The average cost of motoring has risen by £539 over the past year.

That's according to an RAC survey which takes into account everything from servicing to fuel costs, depreciation and the cost of loans to buy new cars.

Overall, the average UK motorist spends £5500 a year to stay on the road. The biggest single cost is depreciation, which also showed the biggest rise, increasing from £1987 in 2005 to £2420 this year. Almost every cost has gone up over the past year.

Despite some frightening peaks in prices at the pumps over the last few months, fuel is the most notable exception. Average petrol bills fell from £1155 in 2005 to £1112 this year. That £43 drop is around the cost of filling the average car's tank.