Car Share Schemes - Could They Work For You?

You may well be full of good intentions this Newwanting to go the same way. We tend to find that,
Year, having resolved to either spend less or reduceonce you start car sharing, you quickly find yourself
your carbon footprint. But where do you start?doing it all the time. We've had some lovely feedback
Thankfully, there is an alternative way to savefrom members, including one who recently asked the
without ditching your beloved motor. Give your walletcar sharer she met to be her bridesmaid!
its very own MOT by car sharing.Hassle free
You might be doing this already, by giving friends aSome people might be concerned about the safety
lift to the pub or taking your neighbour's kids on theof getting into a car with a stranger. Usually, when
school run. But if you want to save serious pounds,people are sharing lifts and it's on a regular basis,
commuting to work with just one other can save onthey tend to be in the same locality so they may
average £1,000 a year. What's more, if youknow people in common. Obviously if someone is
have more people in the car, the amount you saveoffering a cross-country lift, it might be from
will increase!someone way out of their area.
And just think, with the money saved and the bestPeople are advised to check the person is who they
deal in car loans, you could even look to buy a new,say they are, to tell people who they're going to
environmentally friendly motor!meet, when and where and what the registration of
When petrol prices reached an all time peak lastthe vehicle is. Even if you're travelling with them
summer, car sharing became a more attractive, viableregularly, do this until you're happy with the
option. In fact, a survey conducted by The AAarrangement. In addition, there are a number of
alongside YouGov in September, found almost halfprecautions you can take including asking for a copy
the population (47%) were considering it.of the person's car insurance certificate.
Now, the government is giving their full support to£1000 annual saving calculated thus:
car sharing schemes and has even set up a charityThe average commuter has 7,313 miles of journey
to help. A spokesman for the Department forregistered per year that they would like to share
Transport said: "Car sharing has an important role to(usually the total annual mileage of their daily
play in reducing congestion and carbon emissions ascommute).
well as in saving people money when they travel.The average fuel cost is currently around 14p a mile.
So if you're keen to join the ranks of car sharers,The average total cost per mile is around 28p per
how can you go about it?mile (inc wear & tear, depreciation, etc).
The first thing to do is look at car sharing websites.If two individuals drive their own cars 7,313 miles,
When people initially think about car sharing, theythey will spend a total of £2,048 on fuel (2 x
might be concerned if they only want to do it a7,313 x 14p). Their total travel costs would be
couple of days a week. But car sharing is extremely£4,096 (2 x 7,313 x 28p).
flexible; once you've found someone, you can shareIf those two individuals shared one car with each
as often as you like just by arranging with yourother they would save £1,024 on fuel and
sharer in advance.their total travel costs would be £2,048.
Happy marriageBy sharing a car, the fuel costs are reduced by
Car sharing couldn't be simpler. You just log on, state£1,024 and the total costs reduced by
your journey - for example Swindon to Reading - and£2,048.
then do a search to see which other members areWhich equals £1,024 each.