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Save money while you drive with a TomTom sat nav

Posted on 30. Apr, 2009 by Derek in Palm, TomTom

Previous research has highlighted that the use of an in car sat nav can be of benefit both to the environment, and to the safety and wellbeing of the driver.

A recent study conducted by Navteq illustrated that drivers using a sat nav device had a 12% increase in fuel economy. Similarly, TomTom and Dutch research agency TNO produced a report which showed a 16% decrease in the number of kilometres driven in an unfamiliar area, as well as benefits to driver stress levels, perceived workload, driver alertness, and driver performance.

These benefits also translate to greater financial savings for the driver. With an increase in fuel economy, and a decrease in distance travelled, drivers can save on petrol costs as well as having a positive impact on the environment.

Indeed, TomTom have devised a savings calculator, which provides an estimate of the money you can save, as well the reduction in journey time and driver CO2 emissions, by using a TomTom navigation device.

For example, with a basic navigation device such as the TomTom ONE v3, you can save approximately £73, 22 hours of travelling and 178kg of CO2 emmissions over an estimated annual mileage of 18,000 miles. Considering you can buy a refurbished TomTom ONE v3 for only £68.99 inc. VAT, the fuel saving alone would pay for the device within 1-2 years – not to mention the reduction in wear and tear to your car.

With more advanced TomTom devices which include IQ Routes and/or LIVE services (see for example, the TomTom GO 730 and TomTom GO 740, respectively), these savings multiply. IQ Routes, for example, can further reduce journey times by providing a faster and more accurate route, whilst TomTom LIVE services can guide you to the cheapest petrol stations and help you to avoid delays due to traffic issues.

In addition to saving money on petrol, some insurance companies, such as the RAC, offer discounted insurance premiums for motorists who use GPS devices in their day to day travels. According to the RAC, using a sat nav device makes you less likely to crash, by reducing driver distractions, therefore lowering your insurance risk.

With the increasing costs of car ownership, as well as growing fuel prices, navigating via sat nav will end up saving you money in the long term, making even a basic sat nav device a worthy investment.

Tags: TomTom