Motorists have been warned that car insurance is the biggest of the many factors that are making the cost of running their vehicle increasingly expensive.
New figures released by Sainsburys finance show that that the annual cost has gone up by nine per cent in the past five months, from £2,338 in October 2009 to £2,539 now.
During this period, the biggest increases have come through rising insurance and fuel prices, and the company has urged drivers to look for the best deals on their cover.
Ben Tyte, a car insurance spokesman from Sainsbury's Finance, said: "The cost of motoring has soared in recent months as all costs, but particularly fuel prices and insurance premiums, continue to rise.
"The cost of driving can be kept better in check by shopping around, particularly for car insurance and servicing."
A major factor contributing to the rise in insurance premiums has been an increase in the number of personal injury claims, often facilitated by what Confused.com has described as "ambulance-chasing" lawyers.




