A new survey by Europcar has discovered that a change in driver habits has been brought about by the recession.

With the chilly winter months looming large, the cost of extended driving holidays and lengthy travel times have forced a rethink by British drivers in how best to avoid wear and tear on their own vehicles while making the most of their motoring time.

With reliability and peace of mind at a premium during the holiday season, a phenomenal 85% of respondents to the Europcar survey have agreed that they have altered their driving habits as a direct result of the economic downturn, with a further 73% saying that they are considering using car hire to save in maintenance and general wear and tear costs.

Among those considering the option of car hire, 68% have already done so for lengthy trips across the UK and plan to do so again in the coming year. 42% percent of the population do not even use their car during the week at all, preferring to leave it in the garage or driveway and only take it for a spin on the weekends. This figure rises to almost 50% when quizzed about the practice for 2010.

The survey clearly shows that modern motorists are becoming savvier about how to maintain their prized vehicles. Using rental cars is a good way to keep down mileage and save on maintenance, both of which have direct benefits to resale prices.