USED car sales will soar of the Government reduces the minimum age for learner drivers from 17 to 16 motor industry experts believe.

Garel Rhys, director of the Centre of Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff University, anticipates a rush of first-time buyers if the age drop goes through later this year.

The DTLR proposes supervision from drivers with five years' experience, and compulsory extension of the P-plate display scheme, to two years after passing the practical test.

'This will impact on the market because it will move the age of entry forward and the car owning population will expand,' he said. 'Such a move would clearly have an impact on used car demand.'