Research from Your Red Car has revealed just how much Brits love their cars, as more than half (60%) admit to growing emotionally attached to their favourite four wheeled friend. Tapping into the adventures and love affairs we have with our much-loved travel companions, writer and comedian, David Baddiel, has brought to life seven real life memoirs of pre-loved cars in a series of short stories, entitled The Adventures of Pre-Loved Cars.

Your Red Car, the new online auto marketplace powered by Santander, also discovered that over a third (37%) of Brits feel their car is like a family member or friend to them. The younger generation (18 to 24 year olds) go even further, saying they are more attached to their wheels than they are to their parents (35%) or grandparents (33%).

To show their love, four in 10 people name their car – with popular choices including Bertie, Fred, and Bessie. Other owners give their cars more colourful monikers, with “Ebenezer”, “Passion Wagon” and “The Beast” just some of the names shared by survey respondents. A third (31%) of Brits refer to their cars as ‘she/her’, while a fifth use ‘he/him’ (19%).

It doesn’t stop there, as Brits go even further to express their devotion by buying their cars accessories (36%), talking to them (32%), stroking the dashboard (22%), parking them next to other friendly cars (21%) and even giving them a hug (10%).

Brits also find it hard to part with their cars, with nearly a third revealing they feel sad (29%) or sentimental (30%) when selling. Shockingly, nearly a fifth (18%) of Londoners even admitted that they would rather break up with their partner than sell their favourite car. A quarter of 18-24 year olds admitted they found selling their favourite car more upsetting than breaking up with an ex-love (27%), being cheated on (24%) or losing a pet (24%).

Your Red Car has partnered with writer and comedian David Baddiel to share the sweet, surprising, and suspenseful stories of the cars that have been our companions. The collection of short stories includes tales of surprising racing and royal connections, falling in love and unforgettable road trips.

David Baddiel commented: “Cars aren’t just transport. Every car you own can bring back a memory of your life as it was then. The Adventures of Pre-Loved Cars stories are funny and moving. They’re about love, discovery, unforgettable road trips and a casual gift from a king. Curating them for Your Red Car has proved how evocative of things past cars can be. Never mind the madeleines, Marcel – try getting into an old Renault 5…”

Denton Brock, Head of Your Red Car said: “Every pre-loved car has its own story, just like the ones featured in The Adventures of Pre-Loved Cars series. Your Red Car is a fair and simple way to find your own four wheeled companion from a dealer who has been approved by Santander [Consumer Finance] – giving buyers a huge choice of quality vehicles.”

The Adventures of Pre-Loved Cars series, curated by David Baddiel for Your Red Car, is available to read on yourredcar.co.uk.