Bunbury motorists spend more on fuel: report

Bunbury drivers are spending more on fuel than those in any other city in Australia, according to a recent report.

The Australian Automobile Association’s Transport Affordability Index: March 2018 report says Bunbury households are spending on average $91.46 per week on fuel.

The next highest weekly average is in Geelong with $87.72 followed by Launceston with $84.63.

By comparison, the average Perth household spends $70.21 per week on fuel.

According to the report, when looking at regional cities, Bunbury remained the most expensive region for fuel this quarter.

The report aims to shed light on the financial pressures faced by Australian households and the evolving nature of transport costs.

According to the report, Bunbury is the most expensive regional city in Australia in terms of travel costs with the average household spending $294.23 per week on road transport.

The money spent is based on two categories of upfront costs and ongoing costs.

Upfront costs include purchase costs for a new vehicle such as interest payments, registration, stamp duty, compulsory third party insurance, driver’s licences, comprehensive car insurance and road side assistance.

Ongoing costs are those which increase the more the vehicle is driven including fuel costs and car maintenance.

According to the report, the average Bunbury household is expected to pay $15,300.08 per year on transport costs which is up $379.09 from last year.

RAC general manager corporate affairs Will Golsby said the report highlighted the increasing and ongoing financial burden of transport on WA households.

“Transport costs in our State have been on the rise for a number of years and households are continuing to pay more to register their vehicle, renew their driver’s licence and to use public transport,” he said.

“Over the past two years, vehicle registration fees alone have increased by more than 10 per cent.

“These ongoing and substantial fee increases continue to place great financial pressure on WA families with the cost of motoring remaining a high priority issue for RAC and our members.”