Petrol fuels car costs rise

It now costs almost €650 more to run a compact family car than it did this time last year, according to the AA, which puts the all-in cost at €11,817.

And rising fuel costs are mostly to blame—last year that cost worked out at €2,000. In 2011 fuel is €2,301 per year.

Insurance is up 1.2 percent, servicing 2.7 percent, and finance costs—when you can get financing—also rose.

EU forces warranty changes

From next month, car warranties won't be nullified if the owner of the car decides to have the vehicle serviced by an independent provider.

This follows a change in the rules by the EU, aimed at cutting the costs of car ownership.

Up to now, car companies required owners to have their cars serviced at an approved dealership, in order to maintain warranty cover.

The EU saw this as an abuse of anti-trust rules.

Warning on car servicing

The National Consumer Agency is advising motorists to be vigilant when getting cars serviced or repaired and to ensure that the garages and mechanics they use are reputable and trustworthy.

In the first five months of 2009, the NCA say they received over 3,300 calls in relation to the sale of new and second hand cars, repairs to cars and spare parts. Of these, 10 percent related specifically to complaints concerning repairs where work was carried out without the owner’s permission or approval, bills were higher than quotes initially given, faults recurred or repairs were not carried out to the owner’s satisfaction.

"We urge consumers to ask questions if not clear on anything," says Ann Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of the NCA, "particularly about spare parts and the necessity to replace them or relating to the cost of parts and labour. If a motorist is getting a job done they should ensure they have a quote beforehand and should never settle for a guesstimate – that is just asking for trouble.”

For more information visit the NCA website on www.consumerconnect.ie

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Cartell.ie offers UK imports check

Cartell.ie is now offering buyers a car history check on vehicles imported from the UK and Northern Ireland.

In 2007 Irish buyers imported 80,000 vehicles with some 60,000 originating from the UK. Cartell.ie has been offering an Irish service since 2006 but has now gone into partnership with HPI, the UK’s leading Car History Checking company. If the vehicle is imported Cartell.ie will obtain GB or NI vehicle history using the previous UK registration number, even if it is currently on an Irish registration plate.

According to HPI, one in three vehicles has a hidden history which can catch out the unsuspecting buyer.

A recent study of 4350 vehicles imported from the UK showed that in 2001 almost one in 10 was a write off.