Money saved through choosing green

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Motorists considering their carbon footprint when choosing a new car could be inadvertently saving hundreds of pounds on car insurance.

A poll by the Newspaper Marketing Agency (NMA) showed that three in four buyers would look for a vehicle with low carbon dioxide emissions when making their next purchase.

And as low emissions often accompany a smaller engine, motorists could find their insurance premiums dramatically reduced.

The survey of 2,665 people found that two out of three people would change their choice of car to reduce their emissions, while 51% were prepared to pay more for low-emission technology.

However, many consumers remain confused by the jargon of greener living. More than a quarter of respondents had only a vague - or no - idea of what their carbon footprint was.

About 20% did not understand the term "greenhouse gases", and a similar number were confused by "fuel efficient" and "CO2 emissions".

NMA chief executive Maureen Duffy said: "Car buyers are clearly concerned by the threat of global warming, and are changing their purchasing choices accordingly.

"Car advertising needs to engage better with consumers to help them to understand the choices they clearly want to make."

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