YOUR MOTORING HOROSCOPE
Can't park? Totting up speeding fines? Suffer from road rage? It might be written in the stars! Study links horoscopes to driving habits - what does your sign say about you?
- More than 2,000 motorists were surveyed to see who has the worst habits
- Celebrity astrologer Debbie Frank has tried to explain each case
- The study identifies who has the filthiest cars and who are most eco conscious
- It also looks into who is rudest, likely to speed and most material minded
Can your driving habits be linked to your star sign?
According to a piece of new research, yes. And it can dictate which of us are likely to kerb wheels, be addicted to speed and be most aggressive behind the wheel.
Privilege car insurance hired the services of celebrity astrologer Debbie Frank to review the behaviours of more than 2,000 motorists to determine which star signs are associated with bad - and good - driving.
Star signs and driving habits - what does your motoring horoscope say?
The findings highlight the best and worst drivers of the zodiac, as well as those most and least likely to buy a green vehicle, keep their motor clean and be rude to fellow road users.
While not everyone will believe their habits at the wheel are determined by when they were born, Charlotte Fielding, head of the car insurer, said the research had highlighted that regardless of that many motorists have become accustomed to some terrible driving etiquette.
'Our research has found that a number of us have developed some bad habits like speeding and road rage,' she said.
'It’s important that we all take responsibility for making our roads a safe place for all those using them and to remember that the excuse 'it’s simply down to my star sign' will not get you out of a speeding fine.'
Here are the results of the study for each star sign. See if you agree with your motoring horoscope.
Aries are most likely to drive a flashy car better than those their friends and family own
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Rudest drivers: Aries are the least like to be polite to other road users. Almost a third (28 per cent) don't give way to other motorists. Debbie says this is because 'Aries tend to lack consideration for others'.
Drive flashy motors: If you're an Aries then you're all about status symbols - one of them being your car. A quarter of the sign surveyed said it was important for them to have a nicer motor than their friends and family, which Debbie says is down to it being the most competitive sign of the zodiac.
Most likely to have a car nicked: According to Privilege car insurance's own data, this sign is the most likely to be targeted by car thieves. They're always in a rush, according to Debbie, so might leave their cars unlocked without realising.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Worst of all drivers: Privilege’s own data says it is this sign that's most likely to make a motor insurance claim.
Worst parkers: Taureans are also the worst at parking, with more than one in four (27 per cent) admitting they bang a kerb each time they try to enter a space. Debbie's verdict is that this is because Taureans are a stubborn bunch and least likely to take an easy route. Instead, they will follow their initial plan and head for a destination that might pose problems along the way.
Geminis are the most likely to pass their driving test with ease
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Calm and collected: Almost one in five Geminis (19 per cent) have never experienced road rage, or so they claim. Debbie said this is because the sign is linked to movement, so being on their travels is less likely to infuriate them.
First-time test passers: Some 57 per cent of Geminis passed their test first time - that makes them the joint smartest.
Designated driver: One of the most trustworthy star signs to know is Gemini. They will stick to their designated driver duties, and 19 per cent say they do it on every night out. This might be because Geminis can be quite picky, and so would be happy to play taxi to have their own way, Debbie says.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Best parkers: Cancerians are the most confident when it comes to slotting their vehicle into a parking space, with 61 per cent claiming to very rarely or never struggle to reverse into a space - seven per cent above the national average. Debbie says it's because they're cautious by nature and will treat their car like a second home or skin.
If anyone is likely to get caught speeding it's a Leo, with more than two thirds admitting they regularly exceed the limit
LEO (July 23-August 22)
Speedsters: Some 37 per cent of Leos say they break the speed limit, which is higher than the national average of 24 per cent of all motorists. 'Leos think they are the lion king of the road, and therefore speed limits don’t apply to them,' Debbie comments.
Also good at the driving test: Leos are determined to win, which is why they're joint most likely to pass their driving test first time around.
VIRGO (August 23-September 22)
Eco conscious: The most environmentally conscious signs of the zodiac are Virgos, with 72 per cent of saying they'd buy an electric motor. By nature, Virgos are anxious about their footprint, Debbie said.
Enjoy driving: Some 79 per cent of Virgos say they love being behind the wheel, while 26 per cent claim they're proper petrolheads. Debbie says it's because they're ruled by Mercury, planet of motoring and mobility, so you can expect them to love driving.
Practical buyers: Just because they enjoy driving, doesn't mean they don't think practically. Virgos are the most comfort conscious of the signs, with 97 per cent focussing on this when car shopping, which could be linked to their desires to remain healthy.
Librans are the drivers to avoid on the road. They're most likely to lose their temper
LIBRA (September 23-October 22)
Road ragers: Librans are the nation’s angriest drivers. Completely against their balanced image, one in ten says they've lost it behind the wheel. That's because they can 'turn nasty if they are crossed', Debbie highlighted.
Also eco friendly: Like Virgos, 72 per cent say they'd drive something green. Debbie says it's because they are invested in the beauty of the planet and want to retain it.
SCORPIO (October 23-November 21)
Best drivers: Scorpios, who are the least likely to make a claim on their car insurance, Privilege data showed. According to Debbie, they're intuitive and make calculated decisions, which will make them better than others at the wheel.
Will happily drive a banger: Scorpios aren't fussed about how their cars shape up in comparison to their friends’ vehicles, with 92 per cent saying they couldn't care less about image. In fact, 88 per cent said they wouldn't want to buy a sports car to show off. Debbie says it's because they're more concerned with inner power than outer status.
The most courteous of motorists are Sagittarians. It's part of their laid back persona
SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21)
Will let others out: Some 84 per cent of Sagittarians claim to be polite to other motorists the majority of the time. By nature they're very laid back, which is why they might be easy-going behind the wheel, so Debbie states.
Secure motors: Sagittarians get plenty of karma for being polite - they're the least likely to be victims of vehicle theft, insurance data shows. Debbie reckons this is because they surround themselves in positive energy.
CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19)
Speed conscious: Capricorns are cautious by nature and therefore most speed aware. Almost half (45 per cent) say they hardly ever speed or don't exceed the limit at all.
Least green: While they might be steady they're not concerned with saving the planet by driving efficiently. Capricorns are the least eco-friendly, with 14 per cent admitting that finding a low-emissions car wasn't important to them. Debbie says safety and reliability ranks higher for this star sign.
One in five Aquarians admit they drive their car less than one every six months
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18)
Struggle with the test: Almost one in three (29 per cent) of Aquarians take three or more attempts to pass their test, mainly because they're easily distracted, Debbie says.
Won't offer to drive you home after the pub: Don't expect a Aquarius to offer to drive home after a night out. Over a quarter (27 per cent) claim to never be the designated driver. Debbie says it's because they can be quite selfish.
Dirtiest cars: You probably wouldn't want a lift home in one of their cars anyway because they're filthy, the survey found. One in five admit they clean their car less than twice a year.
Like a crazy car colour: Their cars might be filthy on the inside but they tend to be snazzy on the outside, as Aquarians love a colourful paint choice. More than one in ten (11 per cent) stated that their ideal car colour was purple, whilst seven per cent would choose a yellow car. Aquarians are the most flamboyant sign and 'love to make people stop and stare,' says Debbie.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Cleanest cars: Aquarians have the dirties cars but if they were born just a matter of days later they would be much cleaner. Over two fifths (41 per cent) of Pisceans claim to wash their car exteriors at least once a month. Pisces, as a water sign, have a natural affinity to cleanliness, Debbie pointed out.
All about expensive cars: If you see a Ferrari, Bentley or Rolls-Royce on the road it's likely the owner is a Pisces. Some 27 per cent are also the most likely to own a sports car. This is because they always want to escape the mundane world, so they will fall in love with something flashy, Debbie says.
Diesel cars are more than three times as likely to break down than petrol - and they're 20% more expensive to fix
- Alfa Romeo, Land Rover and Mitsubishi diesels found to be most problematic
- MotorEasy reviewed 30,000 faults reported by drivers of used cars last year
- It found the average repair bill for a diesel car was £517 and £433 for petrols
- Diesels are higher pressure engines that put stress on parts, MotorEasy said
Diesel cars have been getting a drubbing in recent months.
Tax surcharges on their purchase, use in inner-city areas contributing to pollution and parking costs have seen them rapidly fall out of favour with car buyers, with sales slipping by 17 per cent in 2017.
And new research is unlikely to help matters for the under-fire fuel type, with a new study finding them to be more than three times as likely to break down than petrol models - and £84 more expensive on average to fix when they do.
Diesel under the microscope again: A new study by MotorEasy found that used diesel cars are more than three times as likely to suffer a fault than a comparable petrol, and are £84 more expensive to repair on average each year
Car ownership and maintenance firm MotorEasy said it had reviewed 30,000 faults registered by owners of used vehicles that were three to eight years old across the last 12 months.
The data showed the average repair bill of £517 for a diesel car last year was 20 per cent higher than those for petrol vehicles.
Models fuelled with unleaded had repair receipts of £433 on average.
MotorEasy said the higher rate of diesel engine failures was mostly down to the fact that diesel engines are under more pressure than petrol motors.
'Diesel units rely on self-compression, meaning that fuel is compressed to a much greater extent, putting more pressure on internal engine parts,' it said in its report.
Some faults involving engine parts can be extremely expensive, the study revealed.
The most substantial diesel engine repair bill one owner received last year was a staggering £4,030.80.
Duncan McClure Fisher, founder of MotorEasy, said: 'Diesels experience many more small problems than petrol cars. They are less reliable and, when a big item goes wrong, it costs a lot more to put right.
'If you're still considering a used diesel car, our advice is to avoid high-mileage examples, particularly if you are only driving low mileage or doing city driving.'
Diesel cars were hauled back into the limelight this weekend after a Federal Motor Transport Agency (KBA) investigation in Germany found that Audi models fitted with Euro 6 diesel V6 engines had emissions cheating 'shut-off devices' fitted.
Diesel units rely on self-compression, meaning that fuel is compressed to a much greater extent, putting more pressure on internal engine parts
MotorEasy
Some 127,000 models produced since the end of 2015 are affected, the report in Audi's home nation said, though it is still unknown how many of these are owned by UK drivers.
MotorEasy's study looked only at used cars, with the majority likely to be powered by older, Euro 5-compliant engines - those found to be fitted with diesel-emissions cheating devices by Audi's parent group VW in September 2015.
With millions of cars impacted by the industry's biggest scandal in modern history - which revealed some cars were coughing out up to 40 times the legal emissions limit - fears have grown over the harmful pollutants emitted by diesel cars.
In response, the government announced in the November 2017 Budget that, from April, all new diesels will face higher taxation unless they adhere to a standard called Real Driving Emissions, Step 2 – a certification that will not exist until 2020.
Drivers of older models in the capital have also been having to pay London's new T-charge since January, while some boroughs have increased the cost to park diesel models in their areas.
Which brands have the least reliable diesel cars?
MotorEasy found that diesel models were less reliable than petrol for 71 per cent of car manufacturers.
However, it wasn't Volkswagen or one of the other VW-owned brands that topped the chart.
That unwanted title went to Italian car maker Alfa Romeo, with data showing that its diesels were more than four times as likely to have a fault than its petrol-powered vehicles.
Of all the Alfa Romeos analysed in the data, almost half (47%) of diesel-powered models suffered a breakdown in the last 12 months
Skoda, the Czech brand that now comes under the VW banner with others such as Seat, Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini, had a failure rate of just nine per cent for its diesel vehicles.
Only seven of 25 car makers analysed showed fewer breakdowns for diesel models.
Petrol-powered BMWs experienced faults 60 per cent more often than its oil burners, while Audi, Skoda, Mini (also BMW) and Peugeot also bucked the trend.
Alfa Romeo, Land Rover, Kia and Mazda diesels had the highest average diesel engine repair cost versus petrol counterparts.
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