One house, four cars

• Modern motoring in Britain: hatchbacks rule the roost and one in six women drives a car with at least 2 litres of engine power
   

While the average household in Britain has two cars (47 per cent), new figures suggest that over 2.2 million (six per cent) households have four or more cars on the same driveway*. 

Analysis of car insurance policies by Direct Line has found that less than one in three people (30 per cent) are ‘single-car households’, while another 16 per cent have three cars at the same home.

Reflecting how many more adult children are living at home with their parents these days, the analysis also found that eight per cent of motorists have their son or daughter insured on their car insurance policy as well.

The snapshot of modern motoring found that the hatchback is the model of choice for both men and women in modern Britain, with 50 per cent of women and 46 per cent of men driving this style of car**. And the study found that there is only a 0.1 litre difference in the average engine size of cars driven by men and women, with the average male driver owning a 1.7 litre vehicle and the average female motorist owning a 1.6 litre car. 

The stereotype of dad driving the bigger, more powerful car and mum driving an economical family run-around no longer appears to be accurate, as one in six (16 per cent) women drives a car with at least two litres of engine power, and one in ten women (10 per cent) drives a 4x4 or a MPV.  

Rob Miles, head of car insurance at Direct Line, commented: “We are witnessing a growing trend of multi-car households where couples drive vehicles with the same sized engine as their partner’s vehicles, and sometimes even an identical model. Around seventy per cent of motoring households have more than one car, and with more people living with their parents into their twenties this could increase even further.”

Direct Line offers 10 per cent off any new car policy and 20 per cent off every additional car you insure with us at the same address***.  
 

ENDS
 

For further information, please contact:

Ewan Robertson

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Tel: 0207 282 2981

E-mail: Ewan.Robertson@citigatedr.co.uk

Notes to editors:

*Direct Line internal data based on 3.7m in-force policies, October 2013. Figures grossed up 37,541,438 full driving licence holders in Great Britain (DVLA, 2012).

** Research undertaken by Opinium Research between the 6th and 8thAugust 2013 amongst 2,002 UK adults (18+) in a nationally representative sample.

***Multi-car discount based on Direct Line data 7th January – 11th May 2013 based on 92 per cent and 87 per cent getting 10 per cent and 20 per cent introductory discount respectively.

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com.

Back to Brand news