Cars are growing but Britain's parking spaces are not
It certainly seems to be the case – after all, cars have got longer, wider, and heavier with every passing year. It's a phenomenon known as 'autobesity' or car bloat.
Author
Erin Baker
Erin Baker is Editorial Director of Auto Trader, an award-winning car journalist for Vogue and a champion for female motorists.
She regularly appears on radio and TV to talk car matters, and is a World Car of the Year judge.
Erin is a champion for sustainability initiatives in the car industry and co-hosts She’s Electric, a national roadshow for women who want to find out more about making the switch. She used to ride motorbikes and race cars, but gave both up when she became a mum to two boys.
Erin's Experience
Erin Baker has been a motoring journalist for 20 years, and began her career at The Daily Telegraph, where she was Motoring Editor and, latterly, Managing Director of Motoring.
She went freelance in 2014, writing for and editing the car sections of various luxury lifestyle titles including Robb Report and Vanity Fair.
She has consulted for Goodwood on the future of the automotive industry for the past decade, and has worked at Auto Trader since 2018, where she now heads the editorial team.
She writes a monthly automotive sustainability column for Goodwood Road and Racing and an electric car column for ElectricDrives.
Erin's recent coverage
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Marie Claire | A new report has found women are more disenfranchised from the car-buying process....
Expertise
Motoring Expert
51% of consumers could save up to £514.27 Consumer Intelligence , Oct 2025 Exc NI, CI, IOM
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
Based on the median annual price by the number of days to policy start date for car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.
Based on MoneySuperMarket quoted policies for annual car insurance, between August 7th 2024 and November 5th 2024
Based on MoneySuperMarket quoted policies for annual car insurance, between August 7th 2024 and November 5th 2024
Based on the average annual price of comprehensive policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.
Based on MoneySuperMarket quoted policies for annual car insurance, between July 25th 2024 and October 23rd 2024
Based on the car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.
T&Cs apply to SuperSaveClub and Price Promise.
SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
Based on 1 visit per month – average ticket value £15.30 (Oct 24)
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Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025, with one driver who has held their licence for at least one year.
Based on the median annual price of third party, fire & theft car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025, with one driver who has held their licence for at least one year.
Based on the median annual price of third party only car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025, with one driver who has held their licence for at least one year.
T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information
T&Cs apply, click here for more information
Accurate as of 09 December 2025.