The fuel wasted equates to over 300 million road miles and is enough for someone to drive an average size car more than 13,000 times around the world.

Steve Price, head of Direct Line Car Insurance, said: “With fuel prices having risen more than 40 pence per litre since 2007, it makes more sense than ever to consider alternative methods of defrosting your car on icy days.”

Despite the average driver only leaving their car engine running for only 3 minutes, the increasing cost of fuel means that motorists are paying increasing amounts to simply heat up a car.

The study also found that 5% of motorists leave their car running for 10 minutes or longer before they set off on their journey, which equates to of around £2.45m on wasted fuel.

42% of those surveyed also admitted to leaving their cars unattended with the keys in the ignition, which leaves them vulnerable to car thefts as well as possibly invalidating their car insurance.

Price added: “It is really important that drivers never leave their cars unattended with the keys in the ignition under any circumstances, but particularly when defrosting their cars.

“Many of us are pressed for time in the mornings and so leaving your car to warm up whilst running back indoors to tie up some loose ends can seem like a clever use of our time.

“However, if a theft occurs under these circumstances policyholders may not be covered.”