Cars are the biggest culprits when it comes to tempting people into spending beyond their means, according to a new survey by Experian, the global information services company. And the research reveals that men are nearly twice as likely to get into four-wheeled debt than women. The debt itself comes from the well known 'buy now, pay late' deals, or the more traditional personal loans.

Despite the rising costs of living and the spiralling costs of running a car, a third of UK adults admit to being influenced by how people perceive them and would most likely get themselves into debt just to give the impression they are wealthy.

The survey highlights that image plays a bigger role for men, with almost one in five of them (18%) being tempted to get into debt to buy a car, compared to just one in ten women.

It also shows that people living in the East Midlands, West Midlands and East Anglia are the most likely in the UK to go over budget with a car to appear wealthy (16%).

Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian's Automotive division, said: "The credit crunch is having a significant impact on consumer confidence across the UK, yet this survey highlights the fact that the consumer's desire for a car that projects the right image remains as strong as ever."

Fletcher adds that increasing debt leads to an increased risk of fraud. Indeed, there has recently been a rise in the number of stories in the media where people have attempted to sell their cars without settling the finance on them.

The survey also highlights the need for both businesses and consumers to be more cautious in their dealings.

Outstanding finance is the biggest issue facing used car buyers and the only way to ensure they protect themselves is by checking out the status of the car before buying it through services such as Experian's AutoCheck.

Of the 2,006 respondents who took part in the survey, 9% were already from households that owned three or more cars, 29% were from households that owned two cars, 42% were from households that owned one car and 21% were from households that owned no cars.