Cash strapped motorists struggling to afford fuel costs, have started flocking to pay-as-you-go clubs across the UK.

Reports from the UK’s one of big four car-sharing companies, City Car Club, indicated 46% rise in its membership in last ten months, taking current membership to 2,200.

Vast majority of more than 700 motorists who joined the club this year, were registered in last few weeks, as prevailing credit crunch and ever rising running costs made owning of a car more expensive. They are now using cars of the club, parked at specific places, by paying charges per journey.

Edinburgh’s car club is growing as the fastest clubs in the UK as large number of drivers is abandoning vehicles to cut household bills.

There is big fall in sales of new cars close to 19% in Edinburgh this year, as reported by Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Keith Stark, manager of the City Car Club, Scotland, informed that number of motorists joining the club has shot up recently due to credit crunch, making it grow as the fastest car clubs in the UK close to surpassing even London in size.

According to RAC’s data analysis, on an average a motorist is able to cut running cost of a family car by £1,300 for journey of 4,000 miles per year by switching to car-sharing.