Released as the Volkswagen emissions scandal continues, the research found that higher-income earners said they were most likely to seek compensation; 78% of those people earning an income of more than £20k per annum agreed with this statement, as did 84% those earning more than £40k per annum.

When asked who they think should be responsible for validating vehicle emissions testing, the majority (51%) said an independent body. One in four believes the government has a duty to motorists in validating testing, whilst manufacturers got the lowest vote.

The research also found that 55% of respondents said they would buy a diesel in the future, suggesting the majority of drivers are undeterred by the scandal.

Samantha Roff, managing director for Venson Automotive Solutions, said: “It’s interesting to note that the vast majority of our respondents would seek compensation from the manufacturer if their car was impacted by the emissions issue. With news reports suggesting that over a million diesel vehicles, in the UK, are involved in the scandal, motor manufacturers could be facing hefty compensations bills.”