Commuting costs UK drivers £2,228 per year: is it time for a different journey?

The daily grind to work is costing UK car commuters a staggering £2,228.56¹ per year (equating to £42.86 per week), new research reveals. This financial strain, driven by rising fuel prices, maintenance costs and parking fees, is pushing many workers to breaking point.

The research conducted by Stagecoach, the UK’s largest bus and coach operator, also found that just over half (55%) of car commuters feel the cost of driving is rising, and one in five (20%) find it increasingly unaffordable to drive daily.

This research comes at a critical time for UK workers, as many Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates are requiring employees to spend more time in the physical office, which has the potential to drive further increases to the cost of the car commute.

Debra Goodwin, Chief Customer Officer at Stagecoach, said: “When it comes to owning and maintaining a car, we know that costs have risen dramatically over the past few years, which has resulted in many people considering if they can afford, or even truly need, to own a car anymore.”

But there’s an alternative journey that many savvy commuters are already switching to: the bus. In fact, car commuters could save up £1,139.32 per year (£21.91 per week) commuting via bus – based on a five-day working week – almost splitting the cost of the commute in half.

A smarter way to travel

As costs rise, car commuters are increasingly looking at alternative solutions. Surprisingly, more than one in ten (14%) have even considered changing jobs to bring down the cost of their commute.

However, savvier commuters have also explored smarter ways to travel. Almost a fifth (19%) are considering using public transport instead, with a third (33%) believing they would save money by switching to the bus.

For those who pay for parking at their workplace, the switch to the bus offers even more cost savings – with 34% of this group spending between £50 and £150 per month on parking alone.

Aside from cost savings, however, there are other benefits of switching to the bus for UK commuters, explains Debra: “Over a quarter of commuters feel they can mentally switch off during their bus journey, and many say they can make better use of their commute on the bus, whether that’s through reading, catching up on emails or simply relaxing.”

For some, the bus even combats isolation, with over one in ten (16%) saying they feel less lonely on their commute.

“The bus isn’t a compromise, it’s a confident and smart choice for those looking to take control of their finances, reduce stress and make their daily journey to work a little brighter,” concludes Debra.