Drivers could be leaving a trove of sensitive data on their old cars by not wiping information held from connecting to a smartphone, according to a survey.

However, failure to wipe data from a car before selling it risks inadvertently giving away personal information to any future owners, including contact numbers, home addresses and even Wi-Fi details.

The results suggest that one in two (51%) drivers had not tried to unsync their phone before parting with the car, while a third (31%) said they took no action at all to remove their personal information.

“If cars are not treated the same as a smartphone, tablet or other connected devices when it comes to data security, motorists risk giving away a treasure trove of information about themselves when they decide to sell their car,” said Harry Rose, editor of Which?

“Manufacturers must do much more to prioritise customers’ personal privacy so that drivers fully understand how much data their vehicle could be harbouring and how to delete this information in order to eradicate these risks.”