Both diesel and petrol cars have come a long way in the last few years, with the differences between the two narrowing substantially. If you’re considering whether to switch from petrol to diesel or vice versa, this guide is for you. There are lots of misconceptions about diesel and petrol cars so we’re going to try and set the record straight, by listing the pros and cons of each.
Pros of diesel cars
- Dieselengines are more efficient. They can use up to 30% less fuel.[1]
- Theyhave lower CO2 emissions by 20%[2]so are often in a lower tax band. This means that you’ll pay less in car tax in the first year, but then the standard £140 a year will apply.[3]
- They'remore powerful when towing a caravan or trailer.
- Dieselengines usually have a longer life span.
- Dieselcars depreciate at a slower rate.
Cons of diesel cars
- Dieselcars tend to be more expensive to buy than similar petrol models.
- Dieselfuel usually costs more.
- Servicingcan be more expensive, although you don’t need to do it as often.
- Insurancecan be 10-15% higher. [4]
- Dieselcars produce a lot more NO2.
- Tinyparticles in diesel can cause asthma flareups. [5]
- Dieselengines can be slightly noisier.
- Ifyou don’t drive on motorways regularly your diesel particulate filter (DPF) could get clogged up and this can be expensive to put right.
Pros of petrol cars
- Petrolcars tend to be cheaper to buy that similar diesel models.
- Petrolfuel is usually cheaper.
- Petrolengines can be slightly quieter.
- Repaircosts are typically lower.
Cons of petrol cars
- Petrolengines are less efficient so use more fuel.
- HigherCO2 emissions by 20% so you have to pay more in car tax in the first year, but then the standard £140 a year will apply. [6]
- Theytend to depreciate faster.
Which wins?
There is no clear-cut answer to this question. For some people a diesel car is the best option, whereas for others, petrol works out better. Experts say that unless drivers do 10,000 miles a year in a used car or 6,000 miles[7]a year in a new car, a diesel car won’t work out cheaper. So, if your mileage is lower than these figures or you’re only planning on keeping your car for a couple of years, you might be better opting for a petrol car.
Whichever you choose, diesel or petrol, it’s always worth shopping around for your car insurance to get the best deal. Insurers consider a number of factors when deciding how much you should pay for your premium. They look at how much it would cost to replace your car if it was written off and how much it costs to repair. Due to diesel cars being more expensive to buy than their petrol counterparts, this can mean that you have to pay more for your insurance.
If you’d like to get a quote for Rias car insurance, click here >
[1]http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/565171/petrol-diesel-car-engine
[2]https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/choosing-between-petrol-and-diesel-power#petrol-versus-diesel-cars
[3]https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/new-and-used-cars/article/petrol-vs-diesel-cars-in-2017-which-is-better
[4]https://www.moneyexpert.com/car-insurance/petrol-vs-diesel-cars/
[5]http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_22-5-2017-10-31-19
[6]https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/new-and-used-cars/article/petrol-vs-diesel-cars-in-2017-which-is-better
[7]http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-2130561/Diesel-vs-petrol-Used-diesel-car-cheaper-10-000-miles.html
