More motorists are looking for economical vehicles instead of sports cars as a bid to drive down costs, an insurer has revealed.

According to research by insurance provider, Swinton, more customers are looking for more economical cars as they are cheaper in running costs.

The survey of 1,000 of its customers, found that the price of the vehicle, car insurance premiums, cost of petrol, road tax and repairs were all taken into consideration before purchasing a vehicle.

As a result, the sales of sports cars and 4x4’s have dropped.

Steve Chelton, insurer development manager for Swinton, said: "With the current financial climate, people are thinking long and hard before committing themselves to buying a new or used car.

"There are many things to consider before buying a vehicle, and being able to find cheap yet good value car insurance is one of them."

Meanwhile, motorists have been advised to ensure they check their tyres before the April showers begin.

Autocar magazine has warned that drivers should choose their tyres cautiously and should not base their choice primarily on the price.

The warning came after the firm found that a premium tyre scored top marks in a test of five budget tyres against a premium tyre.

Senior tester, Jamie Corstorphine said: "Having seen how the five cut-price tyres in this test perform, we're in no doubt that quality pays dividends."