More than a third (35%) of UK motorists say they plan to switch to public transport if fuel prices continue to increase.
Four out of 10 (42%) of drivers surveyed by Startline Motor Finance said rising fuel costs have already made them use public transport more often.
As the £100 tank of fuel becomes a reality, only 23% – or less than a quarter – said they would carry on using their car as usual even if prices at the pumps continue to rocket.
The research, taken from the consumer element of Startline’s July Used Car Tracker, also found that motorists are moving out of their cars and opting to use other modes of transport such as walking (32%), cycling (16%), car sharing (13%), e-bikes (6%) and e-scooters (4%).
Gregor Sutherland, COO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “The recent arrival of the £100 tank of fuel feels like a watershed moment in the cost-of-living crisis and is clearly making quite a lot of people rethink how they use their car.
“They are looking at all kinds of alternatives – with walking and cycling being clear favourites but public transport also in the mix. Probably the bigger question is whether these are permanent changes or people will find ways to use their car more often in the longer term.”
