20 Dec 2017  Five money-saving tips for drivers over the festive period, by Freddy Macnamara, CEO and founder of pay-as-you-go insurer Cuvva

• Plan your parking

o   Shopping centres are infamously overpriced for parking, so side roads, local public car parks, and apps which let you rent other people’s driveways by the hour are alternatives which shouldn’t be overlooked – with a bit of research, you can avoid hefty charges.

• Shop around for petrol

o   If you’re driving up and down the country over Christmas, check online before you leave to find out where the cheapest petrol is en route – whatever you do, don’t get stuck topping up at a motorway station.

• Time your journeys

o   Christmas traffic is always a bore, but it also hits your wallet – keeping your engine running whilst you stop and start will see you get through far more petrol . The afternoon and evening of Friday 22^nd is set to be the busiest for drivers, so consider whether early morning journeys are feasible for you to avoid the jams.

• Only insure yourself for the time you need to drive

o   If you’re staying with family for a week or two and want to get insured on someone else’s car for the odd journey, rather than paying for a full month or week’s insurance, it may be more cost-effective to use a pay-as-you go policy. With Cuvva, you can pay by the hour so you only pay for the time you’re behind the wheel.

• Look out for car-sharing opportunities

o   Avoid huge public transport costs by coordinating your journeys. Whether it be planning with friends & family or using lift sharing sites, splitting the cost of car journeys is often cheaper than a train ticket.