Green cars could save drivers money as well as their planet, according to new research .
A study conducted by USwitch.com revealed that British motorists could each save up to £300 a year by driving more environmentally friendly vehicles .
These vehicles were defined by the website as cars with average carbon emissions of up to 116 g/km.
The research found that purchasing a green car could lead to motorists cutting their own fuel bill by an average of £165 each year, while national savings on fuel could amount to £9.2m.
In addition, USwitch revealed that drivers could also save £125 each on their road tax by switching to greener models .
Ashton Berkhauer, insurance expert at uSwitch.com said: "A vehicle’s green credentials are fast becoming a major selling point when it comes to buying a new car . However, it is not simply a case of motorists blindly jumping on to the green bandwagon."
"With fuel prices soaring to a record high, motorists are increasingly becoming attracted to these fuel-efficient, lower-tax green vehicles, finding them to be kind on their pockets as well as on the environment," he added.
However, despite the potential savings just 0.2 per cent of all cars registered in the UK this year will fall into the green range of under 116g per km – a factor which Berkhauer claims could be partly blamed on the misconception that eco-friendly vehicles cost more than "regular" cars .
"Over the course of a five year ownership, green drivers save on average £1,092 on running costs over a ‘standard’ car on fuel and tax," he added.
