13 Mar 2026
Almost three-quarters of motorists (74%) say they sometimes drive “just for fun”, new research shows.
March’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows 42% feel their car gives them freedom, 38% like to go new places and 28% make time to drive for pleasure.
Also, 24% believe their car creates “me-time” and gives them a sense of control, while 22% believe it is more than just a means of transport.
However, 18% drive only when they need to go somewhere, 11% report fuel is too expensive to drive for fun, 7% say roads are too busy, and 4% feel getting behind the wheel is a source of stress and expense.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “Driving often gets a bad press because of everything from the cost of motoring and road rage through to congestion and potholes but our research shows that most people really do like to get behind the wheel.
“The finding that three-quarters of people get in their car and go somewhere just for fun shows how much people value their car and the whole idea of motoring as a form of freedom.
“It also seems quite significant that a quarter say their car provides ‘me time’ – a safe space where they can perhaps listen to what they want and get away from day-to-day pressures.”
The Startline Used Car Tracker also asked whether motorists’ attitude to driving had changed over time – with 45% saying it offered the same amount of fun as in the past, 30% that it was better and 25% worse.
Paul said: “Again, this seems to buck the narrative that surrounds cars in 2026. While there are reports that traffic is getting worse, simply getting in your car and going somewhere seems to have enduring appeal.”
The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 301 consumers and 61 dealers were questioned.