Rising car costs could drive young motorists off the road, according to a survey.

Drivers fear the cost of motoring could double to as much as £4,580 a year over the next 10 years, the poll by Auto Trader found.

This would result in costs overall rising to more than £135 billion, the survey of 3,495 motorists showed.

As many as 71% of those polled reckoned it would be extremely difficult for young people to buy a car in the future.

More than half (53%) of 17-24 year olds believed there would be a decrease in the number of young people learning to drive over the next decade.

With new European laws leading to changes in the way insurance rates are calculated for women, nearly three quarters (72%) of females polled who had been driving for more than five years believed they could not afford to be a first-time motorist today.

Around half (49) of all those surveyed reckoned they would be forced to reduce the amount they drove, with the number of people buying more fuel-efficient vehicles set to increase.

The poll also showed that over the next 10 years car-sharing was likely to increase, while nearly everyone (98%) felt the Government was not doing enough to support future road users.

Auto Trader group director Nathan Coe said: "Faced with limited personal finances, a crippling rate of youth unemployment and consistent price hikes to the cost of motoring, the younger generation are most at risk as Britain continues to feel the financial squeeze.

"However, with all the technological advancements and trials currently under way, there is hope for the future of young drivers as our passion for the open road is reignited by a new era of motoring."