Because permits, workplace parking, station parking, residents' schemes and occasional city charges can add a fixed monthly cost that is easy to ignore before buying.
Start with where the car will sit while you are not using it
Home parking is only part of the picture. A £6 workday car park used twenty times a month is £120 before fuel.
Check permit rules before choosing the car
Some controlled areas have emissions, size or resident conditions. Do not assume owning or renting a property automatically guarantees a space.
Compare the car with the journey
For a short commute, parking can cost more than the fuel. Sometimes the car is still worth it for evenings and weekends, but calculate the real number.
Insurance, parking and finance are fixed costs that arrive whether the car travels far or not. Add them before deciding what monthly payment feels affordable.
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