The Government's 2040 ban on the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars will not affect motorists car buying choices "for years", according 67% of respondents to the AA-Populus survey.

However, 21% of the 18,500 surveyed are concerned that their current petrol or diesel car will be worth less because of the Government’s announcement.

A miniscule 8% have said that they would be more likely to buy a new petrol/diesel car now in order to get ahead of the ban, although a further 10% noted that they are now less likely to purchase a new petrol or diesel vehicle following the announcement.

Similar trends can be seen in the second-hand market – one in 10 (10%) drivers said that they are more likely to buy a used petrol or diesel car than they were before the announcement, while 6% said they are now less likely to do so.

AA Cars’ director of motoring services, Simon Benson (pictured), said: “An ongoing stream of negative press and blanket legislation around diesel and petrol vehicles has made UK drivers rather jumpy when it comes to buying new cars.

“This is laid bare in the October SMMT figures, which saw a double-digit drop off in new car registrations - with diesels, in particular, noting a 30% decline.

“This research lends some insight into why consumer confidence is dwindling.

"With inflation creeping northwards and Brexit uncertainty weighing on consumer purse-strings, British drivers are increasingly concerned that buying a new car isn’t the investment it once was.

“2040 might be a long way in the future, but the ban on sales of petrols and diesels helps add to the picture that the days of emitting vehicles are numbered.

"More needs to be done to improve the picture of cleaner diesel models – or we risk talking the new car market into deeper trouble.”