How much do you believe car travel costs you per mile?

[Leafster]

I'd estimate the running costs of my car to be around 40p per mile. I've had the car years so there's no finance on it but like Elpenor implied, if I had to factor buying a new (to me) one, the cost per mile would be much higher.

I don't tend to compare the relative cost of using the car against other means of transport. My thought processes tend to be;

Can a I walk it or cycle? Then that's what I'll do.
Is it a night out with booze? Then walk, bus or train, which ever is the most appropriate.
Is it a journey into London? Then it's public transport *
Other journeys would most likely be the car as, on the whole, it tends to be more convenient.

* I live a few miles just outside the edge of south London so sometimes might drive the car into the periphery if it's the most convenient method.

 

[Elpenor]

There are some employers who pay less (and more but the excess is a taxable benefit) of course. If the employer pays a car allowance there’s often a lower rate of mileage paid

 

[story]

This is obviously a leading question teuchter . What point or argument are you leading up to?

 

[Saul Goodman]

This is obviously a leading question teuchter . What point or argument are you leading up to?

He's waiting for the big reveal, where he shows everyone why he's more intelligent for sharing a railway carriage with COVID.

 

[kalmatthew]

I don't do a massive number of miles but given the high cost of fuel I'd be supprised if it wasn't the majority of the cost. However in reality it isn't something I think about. I consider everything but fuel effectively a fixed cost and treat fuel as the marginal. It's probably not 100% accurate but is good enough given the extra work needed to get something more accurate

 

[Spymaster]

Petrol - .20p/mile

Insurance - .5p/mile

Tax - .8p/mile

Not having to get the train with teuchter - Priceless

 

[hitmouse]

Huh, I was convinced that people were getting the 45p mileage rate wrong because I'm used to processing expenses at 42p, but looking it up it does appear that HMRC set the rate at 45p, and the NHS Agenda for Change sets it as 59p. Apparently the 45p rate has been in place since 2011, and I imagine actual costs and things may well have changed a little bit since 2011. As of 2023, UNISON and the RAC were saying it should be 63.4p.
Also interesting that HMRC set bicycle mileage as 20p per mile, only 4p below what they say is payable for a motorbike, I imagine the actual cost involved in running a motorbike is probably a bit more than 4p more expensive than riding a bicycle. Again, I'm used to doing people's claims at 30p per mile for a bike, or at least I would be if anyone ever claimed expenses for riding a bike. I should probably stop pissing about on urban and process someone's mileage claim now.

 

[teuchter]

This is obviously a leading question teuchter . What point or argument are you leading up to?

I am quite often arguing about/discussing public transport costs and costs relative to car travel often come up.

For a while I've had in mind a rough "per mile" cost for car travel but recently realised that this cost is probably well out of date and possibly should be about twice as much.

But am just generally interested to what extent car owners have a figure in mind and if so what it is, and whether it influences their travel choices. In my experience many people only think about petrol and this can lead to quite a substantial underestimate.

 

[Saul Goodman]

Huh, I was convinced that people were getting the 45p mileage rate wrong because I'm used to processing expenses at 42p, but looking it up it does appear that HMRC set the rate at 45p, and the NHS Agenda for Change sets it as 59p. Apparently the 45p rate has been in place since 2011, and I imagine actual costs and things may well have changed a little bit since 2011. As of 2023, UNISON and the RAC were saying it should be 63.4p.
Also interesting that HMRC set bicycle mileage as 20p per mile, only 4p below what they say is payable for a motorbike, I imagine the actual cost involved in running a motorbike is probably a bit more than 4p more expensive than riding a bicycle. Again, I'm used to doing people's claims at 30p per mile for a bike, or at least I would be if anyone ever claimed expenses for riding a bike. I should probably stop pissing about on urban and process someone's mileage claim now.

24p/mile for bikes is ridiculous. Bikes are far more expensive to run than that. A set of tyres lasts about 1000 miles on mine, at 300 quid a set, and I'm lucky if I get half the MPG I get in the car.
Those figures are obviously calculated by a moron.

 

[Griff]

I very rarely (in fact never) drive West, and always use public transport, the cost of getting somewhere stress free is immeasurable. .

You can't put a cost to the number of absolute cunts there are on the road.

 

[Saul Goodman]

I am quite often arguing about/discussing public transport costs and costs relative to car travel often come up.

For a while I've had in mind a rough "per mile" cost for car travel but recently realised that this cost is probably well out of date and possibly should be about twice as much.

But am just generally interested to what extent car owners have a figure in mind and if so what it is, and whether it influences their travel choices. In my experience many people only think about petrol and this can lead to quite a substantial underestimate.

Maybe most people don't care? In the same way most people don't know or care the exact cost of cooking a meal at home, including cooker and pan depreciation, and plate breakages.

 

[PTK]

Interesting - I don't drive either - and if 45p a mile is accurate, that makes my train commute seem like pretty decent value.

I do think a lot of drivers really don't take into account the full costs - depreciation, insurance, repairs, etc when comparing transport modes. For a lot of people (living in urban / decently connected areas) public transport and regular taxis would probably work out cheaper.

I have never driven, but 45p per miles sounds cheaper than the train.

 

[hitmouse]

I very rarely (in fact never) drive West, and always use public transport, the cost of getting somewhere stress free is immeasurable. .

I mean, I don't drive either, but I dunno if I'd describe using public transport as being stress-free.

 

[Saul Goodman]

I very rarely (in fact never) drive West, and always use public transport, the cost of getting somewhere stress free is immeasurable. .

You can't put a cost to the number of absolute cunts there are on the road.

I enjoy it. I treat it like a video game.

 

[PTK]

42

That's 6.24 in metric.

 

[Silas Loom]

Just to note, as nobody else has yet, that HMRC’s 45ppm only applies to the first 10,000 miles, after which the cap is a very stingy 25ppm.

 

[Griff]

I mean, I don't drive either, but I dunno if I'd describe using public transport as being stress-free.

Sorry, should have added a 'relatively' there.

I don't commute anymore, so using public transport these days tends to be a far more relaxing and pleasurable experience than the days of crammed Central Line rush hour journeys etc.

 

[Elpenor]

Just to note, as nobody else has yet, that HMRC’s 45ppm only applies to the first 10,000 miles, after which the cap is a very stingy 25ppm.

I referred to this earlier

 

[kalmatthew]

Just to note, as nobody else has yet, that HMRC’s 45ppm only applies to the first 10,000 miles, after which the cap is a very stingy 25ppm.

Isn't that because the 45p is meant to cover the fixed costs leaving the 25p as the requested marginal figure?

 

[Silas Loom]

Isn't that because the 45p is meant to cover the fixed costs leaving the 25p as the requested marginal figure?

Could well be! They didn’t consult me when they set the rates. I expect they ask teuchter instead.

 

[Griff]

I enjoy it. I treat it like a video game.

No thanks!

 

[story]

I am quite often arguing about/discussing public transport costs and costs relative to car travel often come up.

For a while I've had in mind a rough "per mile" cost for car travel but recently realised that this cost is probably well out of date and possibly should be about twice as much.

But am just generally interested to what extent car owners have a figure in mind and if so what it is, and whether it influences their travel choices. In my experience many people only think about petrol and this can lead to quite a substantial underestimate.

I reckon most car owners think on the daily in terms of petrol, but fully know that the real cost is far more.

Same as when we think of our weekly expenses in terms of groceries and travel without factoring in mortgage heating insurance maintenance . It’s there, but not part of the immediate front of house thinking.



For me, I always know it’s far more costly to own and run a car. Substantially so. But the money cost isn’t the issue for me. When I can afford to own a car, I own one. When I can’t, I don’t own one. Being able to make this choice is a luxury in itself.

The petrol cost for me is the least part of the picture, but it’s the most immediate factor when I do have a car. I know it costs £x for a full tank of petrol, and I know it takes a full tank of petrol to get to my mates out West. The train is definitely cheaper. But then I have to carry everything with me, organise for someone to collect and drop me off at the station or pay for taxis, and I’ll be tied to my location or reliant on other people, so I can’t indulge whims like nipping into the nearest market town or zipping off to elsewhere for a wander in the woods on my own.

So while I’ll gladly take the train to visit them, the value of the car far outstrips the cost of the petrol.

I’m pretty sure comparable factors are playing into other people’s thinking about their car use.

It’s not just a cash analysis that’s at play.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I enjoy it. I treat it like a video game.

If I play driving games I normally keep the accelerator on constantly and bounce off the walls

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

When you consider HMRC give you 20p per mile for cycling,

It does?
Shit. I have missed out on some $$$

Actually not very much though. Maybe £4 here and there. I will remember that in future. . . . not that I ever travel anywhere for work anymore.

 

[Saul Goodman]

No thanks!

I've never thought of driving as anything but fun, apart from when I go to Dublin, then I see why people in overcrowded cities might not enjoy it.

So while I’ll gladly take the train to visit them, the value of the car far outstrips the cost of the petrol.

I’m pretty sure comparable factors are playing into other people’s thinking about their car use.

It’s not just a cash analysis that’s at play.

Exactly this. I don't care what it costs, as it's a necessary expense.

If I play driving games I normally keep the accelerator on constantly and bounce off the walls

Maybe stick to Sudoku?

 

[A380]

To be precise - the number I am interested in is the marginal cost - per mile. Not the total cost.

It's the extra cost per mile once you've paid for all the fixed costs. So it doesn't include the cost of buying the car itself and it doesn't include any costs that you have to pay regardless of how far you drive.

It includes more than just fuel costs though - it includes the costs of maintenance or replacement parts that are related to mileage. So, things like tyres that you have to replace every X miles.

I am interested in two things:

- Do you have any per-mile figure in mind, or is the only figure you really have in mind fuel costs?

- If you do, do you ever use this figure to make decisions about whether to use your car versus other options, for journeys that you make?

Not sure if this is a teuchter thread or a ‘teuchter’ thread. Giving the benefit of the doubt, this should also include number of passengers. This has a significant effect on decision making. East Coast to London for example is a bit more expensive by train if I am travelling on my own, but I’d normally opt for the extra expense. With two people travelling it becomes a lot more expensive and the train sadly only a luxury option. With three traveling it’s never worth it financially.

I have hybrid cars, one plug in and one self charging. I tend to work on a rough marginal cost of 25p a mile which is probably a bit high.

 

[kebabking]

It's not just cost.

Getting to work, even if I drove from home to the first major rain hub, would take 2.5 - 3 hours each way. With 3 or 4 changes. Without driving to the major rail hub, it would mean a 45 minute cycle - in the dark. It would mean leaving at 4.30am to be there for 8, which then has a knock-on effect on my partner - I'd not be about to help with the kids and the school run, so more work goes onto her.

It takes 50 minutes to drive.

During the Xmas holidays my kids fancied going to Oxford for the day - they like the museums.

Between 2 hours and 2.30. and £150 for four of us to go on the train. We've still got to get to the station, and park. The cost in fuel would be £25, the park & ride perhaps £5, and it would be an hour and 50 door to door.

Even including every possible cost - depreciation, tyres, tax etc.. it wouldn't touch £150, and the journey times themselves would give an additional cost - makes it a much longer day, so we'd eat out in the evening, maybe even breakfast as well, at which point that £150 has climbed to £200...

Yeah, no.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Costs me nothing, company car innit.

 

[Silas Loom]

Costs me nothing, company car innit.

Lol, you know perfectly well that’s not true, you just can’t be arsed to do the sums to compare the yearly cost of leasing against higher rate dividend tax after accounting for BIK.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Lol, you know perfectly well that’s not true, you just can’t be arsed to do the sums to compare the yearly cost of leasing against higher rate dividend tax after accounting for BIK.

Only 2% BIK for leccy cars though.