10 ways the web can cut your motoring costs

4. Join a pay-as-you-go car club
Car-sharing clubs are a growing service aimed mainly at those living in large towns and cities. These clubs own cars in a local area that you can hire cheaply and pick up from designated locations whenever you need them, whether it’s for a trip to the supermarket or a trip lasting several days. You don’t have worry about maintenance or insurance, and in some cases even fuel is included in the hire charge. It can even work out cheaper than owning a car if you take into account running costs and depreciation. With clubs like Streetcar you can even take cars abroad.

5. Shop around for car insurance
Comparison sites need no introduction, thanks mostly to their terrifying and irritating TV adverts. We're talking to you, Go Compare. But one novel service, Carbox even sells pay-as-you-drive comprehensive insurance, with mileage monitored by a free anti-theft tracking device - it’s a good idea if your mileage is low or variable, although there is a minimum £180 annual premium. Confused.com, Compare the Market and Money Supermarket, and others offer comparison options aplenty, although it’s always worth trying a few online-only insurers such as Swiftcover to see if they can beat any quotes.

6. Get a better deal on your MOT
Every car that is three years old or more needs an annual MOT roadworthiness test. The official fee for this is £54 but using the web you can do a lot better than this. For example, at the time of writing Nationwide Autocentre was offering a £10 online discount for MOTs. Kwik Fit charges £35 for MOTs booked online. Other online-only deals we found were Mr Clutch (£21 at selected branches) and Auto Trader (£27 via Nationwide Autocentres).

7. Get an extended warranty for your used car
For used cars, an extended warranty that pays for all servicing, MOT, labour and parts costs can help spread maintenance costs. Companies offering these include Warranty Direct, Warrantywise, HPI and Motoreasy. At the time of writing, Warranty Direct was offering £20 off a full service and £15 off an MOT just for getting a quote.