• 54% of motorists are using their car less and 27% opting for public transport more often as a result of rising petrol and diesel prices
• Household budgets have been hit - 45% are spending less on their weekly shop, 29% on clothing and 26% on heating
• 49% believe they may no longer be able to afford to run their car if pump prices stay high, according to June’s Startline Used Car Tracker

June’s Startline Used Car Tracker further shows 27% are opting to leave their car at home more often and turning to public transport as an alternative.

Pump prices have also impacted on household budgets with 45% cutting expenditure on their weekly shop, 29% buying fewer items of clothing and 26% using their heating less.

Additionally, non-essential items have been affected. Almost four out of 10 (39%) report they are eating out less often, while 33% have reduced spending on treats for the family and 26% on holidays.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “We’ve lived through a long period where a number of crises have deeply hit personal finances – from the financial crash to the pandemic – and the new oil shock has left many people feeling even more vulnerable.

“Our findings here show how pump prices are impacting in all kinds of way. Yes, people are using their car less but they are having to make all kinds of economies at home, too, whether that means essential spending or treats. It’s having a deeply negative effect.”

The Startline Used Car Tracker shows that if fuel prices continue to stay high, almost half (49%) believe they may no longer be able to afford to run their car.

Paul said: “This is a perhaps surprisingly high percentage and underlines just how worried people are about their ability to cope with further pressure on their personal finances.”                                                      

The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 317 consumers and 70 dealers were questioned.