Celebrity car addicts unveiled

Are you attached to your usual family car or has a flashy set of wheels ever caught your eye? As a nation, we’re addicted to driving, but when does it go too far for us and the rich and famous?

Britain is said to be a nation of animal lovers, but with over 30 million vehicles on the road, you could probably say we’re closer to our cars.

Our attachment to cars

Since the average commuter spends a week a year behind the wheel, it’s no wonder we’ve grown so attached to our car. Among a list of superstitions and rituals, an astonishing 80 percent of us are said to give our car a pet name. And most men spend more money on their car than a loved one. But when does our love affair with the car get out of control? A tattoo is probably a good sign. Take Daniel Velarde, a Los Angeles student who has made his attachment to the Ford Mustang permanent. Already the owner of a classic 1969 Mustang, he’s had a custom tattoo inked on his arm to match the graphics of the 2010 model.

Celebrity car owners

Others find it harder to stay faithful. As the owner of at least 25 luxury cars – 37 vehicles altogether – including what he refers to as ‘staff cars’ – Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay is one of the UK’s best know car lovers. The current holder of the fastest lap on BBC Top Gear’s the ‘Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car’ segment, his need for speed has got the singer in trouble – in May 1998, Kay was caught driving 111mph and had his licence suspended for 42 days.

A star (and another Jay) with a multitude of cars, but more likely to be driving at a leisurely pace is American talk show host Jay Leno, who’s fleet includes a steam-powered vehicle from 1912. Oh, and a McLaren F1, Merecedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Ford GT and a Lamborghini Miura, so then again… His interest extends to alternative fuels – he owns a Ecojet car with a 650 horsepower engine that runs on biodiesel. Maybe he should take a peek at this list of green supercars.

And not to be outdone, rapper Wyclef Jean has a collection of 37 rare cars, including a party hire favourite with a twist – a Hummer fitted with a fish tank sometimes used to house a shark.

If you really love your car, why not treat it to car insurance from Churchill?