The demise of the Great British banger

A study into the buying habits of recently licensed drivers has found that more than a third (38 per cent) of new drivers have opted to purchase new cars once they have passed their driving tests.

The survey of UK drivers found that the Great British banger could soon become a thing of the past, with 32 per cent of those asked believing newer cars are more fuel efficient than older cars.

Aspirational attitudes are also contributing to this change, with 28 per cent of new drivers shunning older models and hand-me-downs for cars with the latest technology, such as Bluetooth speakers, smartphone connectivity, parking cameras and sensors.

Many new drivers (25 per cent) claimed that it is more cost effective to buy a new car through the help of a variety of finance schemes now available for first time car owners.

Matthew Miller, Managing Director at Motoring Offence Lawyers, the company behind the study, said: “It’s interesting to see how many newly licensed British drivers are now preferring to choose a brand new car, rather than selecting a traditional second hand one or even hand-me-downs.

“Given the aspirational nature of millennials and the range of more cost-effective models and finance options available, it’s not surprising to see that new drivers are aiming higher.”

When quizzed on the way older cars make new drivers feel, 1 in 3 (31 per cent) of respondents said they would have been embarrassed driving an old car when they first passed their test.

A mere 1 in 10 were lumbered with a hand-me-down car upon ripping up the L-plates.

“The research shows a picture of how newly licensed British drivers spending patterns are changing with the times,” explains Matthew Miller.

“However, I still believe that traditional second hand cars will remain a viable option for many first-time drivers as they have been over the past few decades, but perhaps now these older cars will only be called upon for a shorter period of time just while they get to grips with the roads.”

The survey also took into consideration geographical regions, with Birmingham dubbed ‘the banger capital of Britain’, as just 21% of newly licensed drivers opted for a brand new car.

Manchester, on the other hand, had the highest rate of new cars purchased, with 49 per cent plumping for a new set of wheels upon successfully passing the driving test.

By Leon Poultney