Fuel duty freezes have done nothing to stop the public worrying about the price of filling up their cars, according to research from British Car Auctions.

More than 70% of the 400-person sample cited fuel prices as the number one concern when it comes to motoring costs, despite reports from the AA that pump prices have actually fallen over the last year.

Second place in the survey was taken by the cost of road tax, which reflects that the survey was taken among used car buyers. In recent years road tax bills have plummeted compared to six or seven years ago.

Insurance, maintenance and parking costs rounded out the top five chief concerns for used car buyers.

“With nearly threequarters of respondents to our survey using their car every day, clearly every aspect of the cost of motoring is a worry,” said Tim Naylor, Editor of the BCA Used Car Market Report.

"The reality is that fuel prices today are still much higher than they were just a few years ago – and for many motorists it’s hard to forget when unleaded was under £1 a litre.

"According to our research more than one in five are convinced the fuel retailers are failing to pass on potential savings and a quarter of drivers are frustrated by the lack of action by the Government to tackle the cost of motoring.”