With the sheer number of cars on the road - approximately 600 million worldwide - it's natural for people to think that they're the most efficient vehicle to buy for day-to-day use. And while they're undoubtedly incredibly convenient for families or those who take long trips on a regular basis, there are more economical options out there for people in certain situations.

Those who live in the city, for instance, could find themselves much better off with a moped. If most of their journeys involved driving to and from work at peak times, then a moped has many advantages over the traditional automobile.

Not only are the two wheelers incredibly manoeuvrable - ideal for navigating rush hour traffic - but they also offer significantly reduced running costs when compared to cars. Fuel efficiency is a key factor here; if you're going to be sitting in traffic a lot in your car, inching forward here and there, then even the most economical models are going to lose out to mopeds in those stakes.

In terms of road tax, mopeds again come out a clear winner. At and#163;15 for the year, moped road tax comes in at less than 10% of what it will cost you to tax most compact cars, which tend to cost upwards of and#163;120 for 12 months. MOT costs are also significantly lower for mopeds - although, as with cars, if you buy a new moped then you won't need to take it for an MOT for the first three years.

Moped insurance is, of course, vital - and while it won't come particularly cheap for new drivers, costs should still be favourable when compared to car insurance. Have a good shop around for your cover; there are a few good specialist moped and motorbike insurers who will give you a good deal.

Start up costs are favourable, too. While the initial outlay on the vehicle itself is obviously going to be much lower than if you opt for a car, actually getting on the road with a moped will also come cheaper. Applying for a provisional drivers' licence will cost and#163;50 - the same as for car drivers - but the costs associated with qualifying for unrestricted road use will be a lot lower.

Once they have a provisional licence, moped owners must complete Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) before they can hit the road - albeit with L plates attached. CBT costs around and#163;80 to complete; you won't get many car driving lessons for and#163;80 nowadays. Once completed, moped owners can legally drive on the roads (excluding motorways) for two years.

One thing to note is that people with a full car driving licence issued before 1 February 2001 are not legally required to take CBT. It makes sense to do so, however; misplaced overconfidence when driving a new type of vehicle can lead to accidents, so strongly consider stumping up the money and learning the basics before you hit the road.

Once the two year CBT period is up, you'll need to pass the Practical Moped Test to be able to continue driving. That's not to say you need to wait the full two years, of course; you can apply to take the practical test whenever you like so long as you've completed CBT.

Taking all into account, those who take lots of short trips could save themselves thousands of pounds over the years by opting for a moped over a car. Weigh up your options and see how much you could save.

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Article Submitted By: MarkeD
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