The 'Driving Ambitions' study released by The GM Card linked to rebates on Vauxhall cars shows that over half (51 per cent) of drivers aged 17-22 year old think the style, make and model of a car is the most important factor when it comes to buying a car- and one in twenty admitted that the colour of a car is their main consideration.

The study also reveals that just seven per cent of young drivers choose their car on the basis of safety - yet nearly half (44 per cent) admitted to worrying about having an accident while driving. This is a significantly bigger concern for females (52 per cent) than males (37 per cent), who are more concerned that their car might be stolen (42 per cent).

The survey also noted that 38 per cent of parents say safety is the most influential factor in determining which car their child will own. And the findings show that four in ten parents help their child to buy their first car. The survey reveals that parents pay over £2,000 a year for general motoring costs such as petrol, driving lessons and insurance in their offspring's first year on the road - before the cost of the car itself.

Nearly a quarter (23%) of parents surveyed admitted that they either spend savings or make a sacrifice of their own in order to finance their child's driving ambitions.

Following recent changes to The GM Card Reward scheme cardholders can now give their rebate points to a non-cardholding member of the family so that they can save up to £2,500 off the negotiated cost of a new Vauxhall.