Redrawing the map of fuel, insurance..

If you're a seller based in a city or town in the North, I'm afraid it's bad news. According to a study undertaken by the classifieds site Gumtree, used car prices in Leeds have dropped by 47% in the past year (as of November 2010). In Glasgow the figure is 23% and in Manchester it's 12.94% .

Another area where regional pricing matters is in the field of car insurance.

CHEAP CAR INSURANCE

Car insurance prices have risen by an average of nearly 40% in the July-September 2010 period (according to a study by confused.com/EMB, with car owners in East London experiencing a 55% overall increase. Manchester and Merseyside drivers have faced a 45% increase while drivers in the North West have seen an increase in 50% in cities such as Blackburn and Bolton.

Cheap car insurance is clearly becoming a thing of the past.

CHEAP FUEL?

Meanwhile the price of fuel remains a contentious issue nationwide but unsurprisingly some regions are suffering more than others. The most expensive petrol pump in Britain won't be found in Central London but on the Orkney island of Eday where you will pay £1.65ppl as of the end of March.

If you were lucky enough to be refuelling at one ASDA petrol station in Bradford recently, you may have been one of the 50 motorists who benefited from a mistake by staff that saw petrol being sold for £12.9ppl.

For more information about individual forecourt prices, head to www.petrolprices.com to find daily updated fuel prices in your area.

PARKING PROHIBITION

Less immediate but just as critical for your budget in the longterm is the cost of car parking and parking permits.

Britain's most expensive car park is in Knightsbridge in Central London where you will be charged £18.50 for a two-hour stay.

Diesel owners will feel the pinch in Kensington and Chelsea from next month as a £15 surcharge is added to the price of their permits. The council claims that diesels produce more polluting particles than other similar vehicles so expect other councils to follow suit.

THE DRIVER'S ESCAPE

It's not all doom and gloom however. For motorists living in Scotland a blast along the A82 Glasgow to Fort William is officially the best way to remind yourself why you enjoy motoring, according to a study by Mobil1. Motorists from Gloucester intending to head to the A82 though should avoid King's Barton Street because it allegedly features Britain's biggest pothole, measuring 200 ft.

If this is all getting too much then we recommend a visit to Britain's remotest pub, The Old Forge, on the Knoydart peninsula in Scotland. You'll be taking a 45 minute ferry journey or an 18-mile walk to reach this particular watering hole. More than enough time to contemplate a motoring-free life.