The cost of driving for UK drivers has been set out in new Inrix research that shows the impact of hidden costs, such as congestion and finding parking.

Parking-related costs made up nearly a third of the overall cost of motoring.

The travel analytics firm’s first-ever Cost of Driving study revealed vehicle ownership costs in 30 major cities across the United Kingdom, United States and Germany, and found that the average UK driver faced a total driving cost of £5,795 in 2017.

Almost half (48%) of the cost was due to hidden congestion and parking fine expenses, while the rest was made up of direct costs such as maintenance, fuel, insurance and parking/toll fees.

The cost and frequency of parking was a key factor in why the total cost of driving in London last year was 1.6 times the national average at £9,353 per driver while Bristol, followed closely by Southampton, had the lowest total cost of driving at £5,111 per driver.

UK drivers had the lowest total national cost of driving compared to the US (£6,571) and Germany (£7,236) but the highest per mile cost once the lower annual mileage was taken into account.