We wish you a Skype'y Christmas!
High fuel prices mean nearly 1 in 5 Brits will use technology to catch up with friends and relatives this Christmas rather than driving to see them in person.
Almost a quarter (22%) of Brits will not be travelling to see some friends and relatives this Christmas because of the high cost of fuel. Instead, 18 per cent of consumers will be using technology such as Skype and Facetime to wish a Merry Christmas to friends and family they would otherwise have gone to see.
New research commissioned by Gocompare.com has also found that over a third (34%) of Brits don't visit their friends and family as often as they used to and 14 per cent said that their children don't get to see their grandparents as frequently as they'd like as the cost of refueling the family car has soared.
Over half (52%) of Brits felt that owning and running a car was becoming something only reasonably well off people could afford, and 29 per cent worry that their children may not be able to afford to drive when they come of age.
Over two thirds (71%) of Brits feel that the Government should do more to reduce the cost of motoring.
32 per cent of UK drivers feel that they have done everything they can to reduce their own motoring costs including switching to a more economical car. 36 per cent have also changed their car insurer in the last year and 49 per cent said they have cut down generally on their car use.
Scott Kelly, Gocompare.com's head of motor services, commented: "Christmas is traditionally a time for catching up with friends and family but it seems that the cost of fuel will keep many Brits at home this year. Around a fifth of us will be using technology to stay in touch instead, and while that's better than just sending a Christmas card it can't replace a good old family get together.
"Anyone with their car insurance renewal coming up should definitely shop around for the best deal. Gocompare.com customers can save an average of £403.55 on their car insurance, so you may have enough money for some Christmas visiting after all."