The scrappage scheme is only receiving lukewarm responses from motorists, as they claim the programme is not generous enough and discounts should also apply to nearly-new cars.

However, research by Experian showed that 7.1 million vehicles qualify for the incentive, and of those around 1.5 million have owners who are financially positioned to benefit from scrappage.

In a survey by car buyers guide Parker's, more than 80% of respondents said the introduction of scrappage would not convince them to trade in an old car.

Just over two-thirds of consumers thought the cash for scrap scheme was a bad incentive, with 69% saying it was not generous enough.

Almost 78% said the £2,000 discount should apply to nearly-new cars as well.

James Harrison, 24, from Peterborough, owner of an 18-year-old car, said: “The £2,000 isn’t enough to make a new car affordable for me, even on finance, on top of the other things I have to pay for. If the scheme was for nearly new and used cars I think I would be more certain of using the incentive.” 

He added: “I have a Renault Clio which would qualify for the scheme. It’s definitely made me think about it, but the amount of information available is very poor. I don’t know where I’m supposed to take my car or who will sort out what - it’s confusing.

With the Government supposedly encouraging greener cars on our road, one motorist Dale Vinten, 27, an IT technician in Peterborough, thought the scheme would be of little help.

“Somehow I can’t understand how anyone could think that it would be greener to crush my perfectly good Nissan Skyline or Ford Escort, that both still have years of life left in them and then manufacture a whole new car out of fresh materials, all because the CO2 emissions coming out the exhaust pipe are a little higher. It’s madness. 

"The Government needs to start thinking bigger with regards to energy saving schemes. More cycle lanes and incentives to buy greener cars just isn’t enough.”

But Steven McKenna (34), a mortgage adviser in Peter-borough, thought it was a good idea: “Selling a 10-year-old car would never net you £2,000.

The dealers make a grand from the Government, the punter gets a big discount on his new wheels and the manufacturers get a boost to the lagging car sales. The only downside I can see is that the dealers can’t sell on your old car to traders.”