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The average road tripping holidaymaker drives 816 miles, the equivalent of London to Nice, according to new research from Halifax Travel Insurance.

Europe proves the top holiday road tripping destination, but even given the current social pressure to behave in a 'greener' fashion, just one percent of Britons planning a holiday road trip will hire an environmentally friendly hybrid car.

Indeed, it might not prove to only be more environmentally friendly, you could also save on fuel costs as eco-cars also tend to do more miles to the gallon

In fact, Britons could save 53% on fuel costs by switching to a hybrid powered car, enough to pay for their annual travel insurance.

We're all at it

Over 17.5 million Britons have taken a holiday road trip in the last 12 months. Indeed, from epic trips down Route 66 to caravan holidays in Skegness, holidaying British motorists completed the equivalent of six hundred thousand journeys around the world last year.

The average road tripper covered 816 miles on holiday, the equivalent of driving from Portsmouth to Prague.

Racing green?

However, only one percent (66,000) of Britons planning a road trip in the next 12 months intend to hire a hybrid car. Instead they intend to opt for a mid-size car such as a Ford Focus 17% (653,000), followed by a people carrier 6% (405,000) and compact 11% (404,000).

Over 300,000 Brits will be taking their home on the road, travelling via campervan, or taking a caravan. Almost half (3,477,000) Britons will be taking their own car on their holiday road trip.

Travellers opting for a hybrid car could cut their fuel emissions by a third compared to a standard petrol engine vehicle, cumulatively saving tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

How much could you save?

Halifax Travel insurance has calculated by opting for a greener car, such as a Toyota Prius, a Briton abroad driving the average holiday mileage (816 miles) in the USA would save 53% on their fuel costs compared to a Ford Focus.

Drivers covering the same distance in France could save over £30 on their holiday fuel bills.

Here's how much money you would save on your holiday petrol bill by hiring a more eco-friendly car than your typical motor rental(based on average holidaying driving figure of 816 miles and average petrol prices in western Europe):

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