Car Tips

Add depreciation, insurance, tax, fuel, servicing, tyres and MOT, then divide by the miles you actually do. Depreciation is usually the biggest line and the one nobody counts.

The legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central three quarters, but wet braking deteriorates badly below about 3mm. Age matters too: rubber hardens after about six years.

Shop around three to four weeks before renewal, pay annually rather than monthly, and check whether a slightly higher voluntary excess or a black box policy helps.

For most ordinary cars, no. It is worth it only where the manufacturer specifies a higher octane, which is generally performance and some turbocharged engines.

Anticipate and coast rather than accelerating and braking, keep the tyres at the right pressure, take the roof bars off, and slow down on the motorway.