It's not just green car insurance that Brits are choosing

In recent years there has been a rise in the number of companies offering green car insurance and other products to keep up with consumer demand for more environmentally friendly services, and this green mentality is also affecting the cars that people buy.

As they strive to reduce their personal impact on the environment – in this case their carbon footprint – British motorists are increasingly choosing a more environmentally friendly car, according to research from global information services company Experian.

Experian has found that the green credentials of a car affect the decision of which one to buy for 26 per cent of Brits, with more than half of motorists saying that they are concerned about the negative effect their car has on the environment.

Female drivers are more concerned about their environmental impact than their male counterparts, the research found, and are also more likely to let this affect their decision of which car to buy.

The study also revealed that drivers who change their car more regularly – those who keep each one for less than three years –are more likely to consider their carbon footprint when buying a new car compared to others who do not change their car for four years or more.

"Our research shows that the environment is clearly becoming a bigger concern for car owners." said Kirk Fletcher, managing director of Experian's Automotive division. "In our opinion, this is more likely to continue to grow rather than diminish and needs to be factored into the sales process.

"A car is the second biggest purchase a person is likely to make after a buying a house and customers concerned about the environment will have a lot of questions to ask before they make their final decision to buy. Dealers need to have this information to hand to enhance the possibility of a sale."

Meanwhile, research from Legal & General has revealed that Brits are happy to go green but only on their terms. Apparently, 82 per cent of them are annoyed that they are having green values forced on them by government and business initiatives, such as being charged for carrier bags in the supermarket.

However, almost all Brits – 98 per cent – say that they are taking steps to make their lives greener, such as getting green car insurance and recycling household waste, illustrating that they are more than willing to do their bit to fight climate change, but do not appreciate having it enforced upon them.