Second on the list is Manchester. This popular northern city features high up on the list due to its pricey parking costs for residents and high insurance costs. It may be an attractive city to live in, but be prepared to pay over the odds to own a car in Manchester.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,037.40

Average annual spend on parking: £178.36

Residents permit cost: £650.00

Insurance cost: £1,128.60

Total: £2,994.36

Surprisingly, London avoids the title of most expensive city to own a car, and sits third on the list. Drivers living in the capital can expect to pay more for petrol compared to other cities, as well as the highest insurance costs compared to other UK locations.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,131.00

Average annual spend on parking: £201.24

Residents permit cost: £155.00

Insurance cost: £1,433.88

Total: £2,921.12

Awarded the accolade for the highest petrol prices across the land, Belfast appears in fourth place as a result. Insurance and parking prices are also quite steep but at least the residents parking permits are fairly low.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,506.96

Average annual spend on parking: £170.04

Residents permit cost: £30.00

Insurance cost: £1030.10

Total: £2,737.10

We're sure all residents living in a city feel like parking should come free of charge, but Preston is one of the many where this isn't the case. Although parking as a resident will set you back £25, it is still at the lower end of the scale.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,452.36

Average annual spend on parking: £124.80

Residents permit cost: £25.00

Insurance cost: £869.54

Total: £2,471.70

Locals living in Leeds benefit from residing in one of the few cities where parking comes free of charge. Visitors to the city can expect to pay around £2.60 for on-street parking, which puts Leeds at the higher end of the scale for people visiting the city.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,107.60

Average annual spend on parking: £277.16

Residents permit cost: £0.00

Insurance cost: £990.50

Total: £2,375.26

The vibrant city of Liverpool is known for its rich history and famous culture, but owning a car in the local area doesn't come cheaply. Claiming seventh spot on the list due to average insurance costs and fuel being at the higher end of the scale. However, visitors to the city will only have to pay a small fee for on-street parking cost.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,064.44

Average annual spend on parking: £104.00

Residents permit cost: £0.00

Insurance cost: £1,140.40

Total: £2,308.84

Residents living in Nottingham are among some of the few drivers who don't have to pay for parking. The average cost for insurance is also fairly reasonable compared to other cities, at just under £800.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,202.76

Average annual spend on parking: £284.96

Residents permit cost: £0.00

Insurance cost: £794.79

Total: £2,282.51

Although the cost for petrol in Sheffield sits in the middle of the scale, parking costs for residents are fairly high compared to the majority of the other cities mentioned.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,068.60

Average annual spend on parking: £96.72

Residents permit cost: £260.00

Insurance cost: £841.91

Total: £2,267.23

When it comes to the total cost to own a car, Glasgow sits in the average bracket. Both insurance and petrol costs are fairly reasonable and sit in the low to middle range, but the price of a residents permit is higher than the national average.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,040.00

Average annual spend on parking: £130.00

Residents permit cost: £285.00

Insurance cost: £735.78

Total: £2,190.78

Coventry sits right in the middle of the table with reasonable insurance costs, as well as on-street parking for visitors at around £1 per visit. Residents parking is very reasonable to boot.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,157.00

Average annual spend on parking: £132.60

Residents permit cost: £25.00

Insurance cost: £865.47

Total: £2,180.07

The prices across the board are pretty average in Leicester. The cost for a full tank of petrol is at the lower end of the scale, as well as on-street visitor parking at £1 and reasonable insurance costs at around £830.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,076.40

Average annual spend on parking: £148.20

Residents permit cost: £25.00

Insurance cost: £830.93

Total: £2,080.53

Located on the south coast of England, Brighton is well-known for being a popular holiday destination and its vibrant nightlife. As well as this, locals can also be proud of their cheap insurance costs at under £650. However, if you're visiting the city then expect to pay almost £4 for on-street parking.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,106.56

Average annual spend on parking: £177.84

Residents permit cost: £130.00

Insurance cost: £648.76

Total: £2,063.16

Despite its proximity to London, Reading finished towards the lower end of our list with reasonable insurance costs. Parking costs for visitors sit at the lower end of the scale, however, unlike some cities you won't be getting the privilege free of charge resident parking.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,191.84

Average annual spend on parking: £102.96

Residents permit cost: £40.00

Insurance cost: £696.44

Total: £2,031.24

Considering it's the capital of Wales, it would appear that Cardiff is a relatively cheap city to own a car. Petrol prices and visitor parking prices aren't great but Cardiff makes up for this with low insurance costs and very reasonable resident parking fees.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,053.00

Average annual spend on parking: £132.08

Residents permit cost: £7.50

Insurance cost: £771.27

Total: £1,963.85

The cost for car insurance in Edinburgh is second best, closely beaten to top place by Exeter. Although average insurance costs are at the lower end of the scale, the cost of a residents parking permit is actually the fifth highest.

Average annual spend on fuel: £995.28

Average annual spend on parking: £72.80

Residents permit cost: £254.00

Insurance cost: £600.33

Total: £1,922.41

Awarded the 4th cheapest city on our list, Bristol has low costs for petrol and insurance, with on-street parking for residents being at the lower end of the scale. With these low costs, drivers in Bristol can rest assured that the prices they're paying are some of the best.

Average annual spend on fuel: £1,043.12

Average annual spend on parking: £121.16

Residents permit cost: £50.00

Insurance cost: £696.18

Total: £1,910.46

Thanks to cheap resident parking and low petrol prices, Newcastle can be proud of the title of being the third least expensive city on our list. However the price of visitor parking is actually quite steep, higher than Manchester in fact who just missed out on the title of the most expensive city.

Average annual spend on fuel: £915.72

Average annual spend on parking: £182.52

Residents permit cost: £25.00

Insurance cost: £755.87

Total: £1,879.11

As a visitor exploring any UK city, it's more than likely you're expecting to pay dearly for parking. But out of the cities we've chosen, Suthampton was one of the cheapest for visitor parking. Taking second place for the least expensive city, Southampton has low costs for both insurance and petrol, however, residents can expect to pay around £100 for on-street parking.

Average annual spend on fuel: £797.16

Average annual spend on parking: £114.40

Residents permit cost: £100.00

Insurance cost: £688.66

Total: £1,700.22

So here we have it, the winner of the cheapest city to own a car. Exeter has low costs for petrol and resident parking. However, it's the cost of insurance which puts the city at the top of the list. On average, drivers in Exeter will pay less than £560, compared to nearly £1,500 in London.

Average annual spend on fuel: £924.04

Average annual spend on parking: £162.24

Residents permit cost: £30.00

Insurance cost: £559.47

Total: £1,675.75