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Improved warranties from motor manufacturers have driven down the cost of driving a new car, making it cheaper to run than an older model, according to new research.
The survey comes as new car sales earlier this month recorded their biggest increase so far this year in October, helped by the scrappage scheme.
Originally set to end in February, Business secretary Lord Mandelson announced an £300m extension of the initiative last month to cover an additional 100,000 more cars and vans.
The RAC annual motoring index reports that running a new car costs an average of £2,219 a year, compared with £2,744 for an older model.
One of the main reasons for the shift is that annual maintenance costs for used vehicles cost on average £787, compared with £366 for new models.
Annual running costs for a new car had reduced 5 per cent on the 2008 average.
The cost of motoring index also reveal 45 per cent of motorists had made changes to their car ownership habits in 2009, with 20 per cent getting rid of a their second car, 28 per cent of motorists have cut down on usage and 6 per cent have switched to a smaller model.
The survey also revealed twice as many women had downsized their vehicle in the last 12 months.
RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink said: "It's been a tough year for motorists, and while it's good news that the costs of running a car have dropped slightly in the past 12 months, it probably won't feel like it at a time when the family budget is being squeezed from all sides."
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