So if you think fuel prices are high in the United States, consider the woes of consumers in the United Kingdom: They are currently facing gasoline prices of $8.40 per gallon, and diesel prices are even higher -- around $8.75 per gallon. No wonder a recent survey of U.K. motorists by the Admiral Insurance Company found that British motorists are using their cars less -- and subsequently ignoring problems with their cars -- due to motoring costs.
Half of U.K. motorists say they have reduced the amount of time they spend driving due to the rising cost of fuel, while a strong majority feel the current prices of gasoline and diesel are unconscionably high. The findings are unequivocal: Ninety-two percent of consumers say they feel “ripped off” by the current cost of fuel, and 51 percent say they’ve reduced the amount of driving they do in light of the high fuel prices.
Taxes and duties are among the culprits in the inflated fuel prices in the United Kingdom. Fuel duty and the value added tax (much like our sales taxes) account for 60 percent of the price of fuel in Britain. Consumers in the U.K. told Admiral that a fairer amount would be less than half of that: 31 percent. British drivers currently pay $5 per gallon in taxes on gasoline, so it is no wonder they feel ripped off.
And if the price of fuel isn’t enough, other driving-related costs are also having their effects. Some 18 percent say they have ignored a fault or problem with their car because of the cost of repairs, while 15 percent say they have cut back or stopped servicing their car due to costs. Even more worrying: Eight percent say they have ignored problems with their tires due to the cost of replacing them.
