How to car share and how it can cut the cost of insurance for car drivers

With the UK economy in recession, ways to save money on motoring costs such as fuel and insurance for cars could be a vital lifeline to many struggling to make financial ends meet.

A relatively simple method to make some savings is to car share. Drivers give lifts to one or more people usually in exchange for a contribution towards the cost of each journey.

Another way to car share is to alternate driving on different days when a driver and a passenger each own a car and they can take it in turns to drive on a week on, week off or day on, day off basis.

It is mostly impossible to find drivers who are neighbours and who travel to work where they are also next to each other.

As a result, car sharing services have sprung up all over the country. Many have websites - simply type "car sharing" into Google and check out the various businesses and groups now available to help people share lifts.

These relatively new services are designed to help motorists car share with a number of others as and when it is convenient and appropriate. It's not only about finding two people who can car-share regularly on a daily basis.

The main benefit of car sharing for most is saving money. The savings can be substantial - and it's not just about fuel savings. Owning a small car is reckoned to cost at least 31 pence per mile taking into account bills such as car insurance, road tax and servicing.

Interestingly though, there are a range of other benefits, not just cash savings. Car sharing helps the environment, reducing carbon footprints by many hundreds of thousands, even millions, of miles when assessing the impact of car sharing across the country.

Car sharing allows motorists to take a break from daily commutes that can be tiring and stressful. Opting to become a passenger on occasions provides opportunity for some rest from the strain of driving.

It makes sense to use the extra time sitting in a car to, say, catch up on lost sleep, read newspapers or magazines or even do some work.

Above all, sharing a car with new people can be an enjoyable experience, expanding social and business circles as lift sharing becomes a regular part of life.

Online car sharing services allow would-be sharers to register their interest in a numbers of ways. It is possible to sometimes be a passenger and sometimes a driver. Alternatively, motorists can register to always be the driver or always the passenger.

While being available to car share during work days may seem the most common way to register, it is also possible to share lifts outside of work. Irregular work patterns can be catered for as well as people with 9-to-5 work roles.

There is no need to register to carry out lifts regularly because occasional lift sharing is an option. One-off lifts for special events or entertainment can also be arranged.

A whole new world of transport can open up by participating in car sharing. Bearing in mind the numbers of people driving up and down UK roads with just a single occupant, there is an opportunity to develop a better sense of community across the country by bringing more people together.

As well as that, fewer miles travelled in cars and other vehicles could herald a whole new era of cheaper car insurance for all. Come on everybody - think about car sharing!

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