While carbon reduction remains a major concern for fleet managers, it is dropping further down the list of priorities for used car buyers.

Fleet managers concentrating on reducing their fleets’ carbon footprint are leasing an increasing number of lower emissions cars.

However, while these cars are saving fleets money, fuel and carbon emissions, they are not proving any more attractive to used car buyers once they are de-fleeted.

In fact, a second-hand vehicle’s environmental impact is even lower on the list of priorities than it was in 2006, with only 26% of all drivers listing it as a top concern when deciding on which used car to buy.

Reliability was seen as the most important issue, but even factors such as vehicle styling ranked higher than emissions.

“Currently, there is little real incentive for used car buyers to take emissions levels into account,” explained David Brennan, managing director of LeasePlan.

“Compare that with the fleet market, where considerable changes have been made to encourage the uptake of cleaner vehicles, including the introduction of the CO2 based benefit in kind tax system.”

The survey did find one positive: a small but important rise in the numbers of people considering alterative fuels for their next car.

Of all those looking to buy a new car, around 6% plan to buy one powered with an alternative fuel such as LPG or a petrol/electric hybrid.