A brief respite for motorists

Ah, the put-upon motorist. Fees to park outside your own house, potholes littering the streets, road tax, MOTs, and the biggest liability of all: insurance.

Last year insurance premiums soared by 14 per cent. That’s an £81 increase in just 12 months, bringing the average annual comprehensive car insurance policy to £671, according to Confused.com. Analysis by the price comparison site found that every single region in the UK saw double-digit annual price increases in their car insurance costs over the past year.

And that’s just the average. Last time I renewed my car insurance, my existing insurer quoted around £1,500, more than double what I was previously paying. I drive a Ford Fiesta and live in a small town with a crime rate so low they closed the police station and are auctioning off the building. Needless to say, I decided to take my business elsewhere.