Drivers change buying behaviours
If they were to buy a new car tomorrow – more drivers (48%) would opt for a petrol powered car than one fuelled by diesel (21%) whilst 16% would opt for an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV).
The survey of 2,000 drivers, commissioned by Gocompare.com Car Insurance, echoes data from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) UK new car registrations report which shows that while sales of diesel cars rose by three per cent in 2015, they were outpaced by an 8.4% rise in sales of cars with petrol engines – giving diesel and petrol cars an equal share of the market. New registrations of AFVs grew by 40% and now account for 2.8% of the market.
Matt Oliver spokesman for Gocompare.com Car Insurance commented, ‘While sales of petrol and diesel cars still dominate the market, an increasing number of motorists are buying alternative fuel vehicles. In addition to environmental concerns and high fuel prices, sales of these cars are in part driven by attractive Government incentives and tax breaks which help bring down running costs. But, alternatively fuelled cars are still niche and generally cost more to insure than similar petrol or diesel models. While there’s a good choice of providers and a competitive market for hybrid vehicles, drivers of purely electric cars might still find it harder and more expensive to get cover.’
Alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) are able to run on a fuel other than purely petrol or diesel, including electricity, gas or a combination of fuels such as gas bi-fuel and hybrid electric.
