Just when you thought the recession had bit the bullet a stack of new research rears its head proving that as motorists we are still doing all we can to avoid excess costs or an expensive car breakdown.

According to the latest findings almost 50% of car owners are doing things like driving more smoothly and doing less accelerating in a bid to save the pennies until the world picks itself up and shakes itself down again.

The good news is that the one thing they are not doing, it seems, is getting rid of their car breakdown insurance cover with sales at Rescue My Car at record levels.

Rescue My Car’s Managing Director Neil Richards Smith explained why this may be the case: ‘Car breakdown insurance, and especially a policy with European cover, is very advisable in the current climate as it insures you against any unexpected costs.

‘A car breakdown can be a very expensive problem and without the right level of cover the savings from all the careful driving in the world will be cancelled out in one swoop.’

Other areas we are concentrating on to save a few pounds include switching off the air conditioning and keeping on top of the air pressure in our tyres, which has the added benefit of reducing the chance of a breakdown.

Mr Richards Smith went on: ‘Cutting back on extras such as breakdown cover can be a false economy.  A few pounds saved on the extras could cost much as £277 for a truck to tow you and your car home.”

For more advice on car breakdown cover or European breakdown cover follow these links.