- Turo survey finds car-less Brits face average travel costs of £114 this Christmas.
- Half (50%) say high transport expenses mean buying fewer gifts, with 61% of train users hardest hit.
- Londoners face the highest costs at £151.
- Turo offers car-sharing options from £29 a day, with delivery available.*
The high cost of holiday travel is forcing millions of Brits to cut back on Christmas presents, according to new research by Turo. The car-sharing marketplace surveyed 2,000 car-less Brits via Censuswide to understand how travel expenses are shaping holiday plans.**
Brits without cars expect to spend an average of £114 travelling home for Christmas this year. Londoners face the steepest expenses at £151, followed by Northern Ireland (£144) and Scotland (£143). Residents of the North East expect the lowest travel costs at £77.
English rail fares have risen by 4.9% this year, with another increase of 4.6% set for March.***
Travel Costs Strain Gift Budgets
Half of respondents said their ability to buy presents has been impacted by travel expenses. For train users, this rises to 61%.
Londoners are most affected, with 59% reporting reduced budgets for gifts. Younger people also feel the strain, with 66% of 18-24 year-olds cutting back, compared to 28% of those over 55.
Some respondents have opted out of holiday travel altogether. Nearly one in five (18%) said they won’t see their parents this Christmas due to travel costs, rising to 25% among 25-34 year-olds.
Turo’s Tips for Budget-Friendly Travel
Rory Brimmer, Director at Turo, shared advice to help manage travel costs:
“It’s a real shame that the high cost of getting home for Christmas is stopping so many people from buying the gifts they feel their friends and family deserve. But with the average trip home costing £114 for those without a car – or £151 for Londoners – that’s the reality. While not owning a car makes perfect sense for millions of city dwellers year-round, during the holidays it is a real pain.”
- Rent locally with Turo.
“Car sharing offers a flexible and affordable alternative to train travel – with cars available from £29 a day on Turo*. Get a car delivered to your door or find a car right in your neighbourhood too, meaning you can save on any public transport costs to the railway station, and you can bring far more luggage more comfortably. That means bigger presents for your nieces and nephews.” - Book travel early.
“If you are taking the train or flying to your destination, make sure to book as early as possible to avoid any surge pricing and get the widest possible range of options. Advance singles are generally far cheaper than flexible train tickets. Consider whether you can actually travel to your Christmas destination a little bit earlier and work remotely there – prices could be a lot cheaper than they are on Christmas Eve.” - Explore carpooling options.
“Chances are someone you know or who lives near you is driving near enough to your destination. Ask around your friend group to see if you can split petrol costs with anyone going near to your destination, and if that fails try your local street or neighbourhood WhatsApp or Facebook group. Make sure if you do this that you know the person driving enough to trust them.” - Opt for a coach trip.
“Coaches are generally the most affordable option for travelling around the UK, but are also quite slow. If time is on your side and you don’t mind the longer journey, the coach can be an essential tool – even if it is just for one leg of your journey.”
