Car running costs, beyond fuel and servicing

Apart from fuel and servicing there's also registration, insurance and roadside assistance plans to take into account.

Registration, fuel, insurance, roadside assistance and general servicing are the mainstays to consider.

With each of these taken into account, it's easy to see how even a small car can run up a $200 weekly bill (that's $10,000 a year).

Fuel costs will fluctuate throughout the year, and their significance will shift from person to person (someone who only drives on weekends will spend far less on fuel than an everyday driver). Servicing costs will vary by model and age. A new car will cost less each year to keep in good shape than a classic.

These sorts of are calculations you'll need to work through on a case-by-case basis. But registration, insurance and roadside assistance plans can be scrutinised and accounted for more generally.

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Registration

You'll find there is a lot more to registration than just paying the listed fee to your transit authority. To begin with, there's the Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance which is mandatory nationwide. CTP insurance covers any injuries to others that are acquired in an accident, and although expensive, CTP is an incredibly important part of our registration system.

Cars of a certain age (usually models over 5 years) will also require a road-safety check at the mechanic's workshop before being cleared for registration. This may vary state-to-state, so check with the appropriate motor authority for where you live.

Insurance

As with any type of insurance, it usually pays to shop around. Policies will be priced around factors like age, driving experience and address, as well as the value of the car. Any modifications, recent insurance claims and certain license classes will also attract higher fees. Payments can generally be made monthly, quarterly or annually.

Roadside assistance

Comparing the range of roadside assistance plans available to you is the only way to find what's best suited to you and the best priced for your driving habits.

You'll discover subtle differences in what's offered and what's limited by each provider and each level of cover. Beyond the actual inclusions, the most obvious points of difference between packages will be their fee models. Some plans will be pay-as-you-go, some will be lumped into monthly or annual payments. Some providers will require a joining fee, some won't.

Broadly speaking, roadside assistance is one realm that does not require specialist knowledge to make the right choice, just see what's on offer and line it up with what feels best for you.