Latest estimates suggest that more than 17 million cars will take to the roads each day this Christmas period, and with rail and airport border staff strikes looming that figure may prove to be too low.

With just three days until the big one, radio station playlists are already full of festive tunes, so what will get drivers cranking up the volume by Boxing Day, and what will see them scanning through stations or turning off the radio entirely?

The latest Europcar customer poll named Fairytale of New York as the favourite festive tune, with Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas coming in second place. All I Want For Christmas was the most divisive – it was the most likely to see the radio switched off, but a similar number named it as the tune to get them turning up the volume.

Arguably Mariah Cary’s most famous song is the UK’s most streamed Christmas song over the festive period, with some 248 million streams on Spotify, which may explain why many find it grating – especially when they’re travelling to visit friends and family.

‘Some people will travel long distances over the Christmas period and while we all love a festive tune, they can become a bit tedious on a long car journey,’ said Evelyn Tourish, UK customer experience manager at Europcar.

‘Like brussels sprouts, there are some Christmas tunes many people either love or loathe. “Fairytale of New York” is a classic that has stood the test of time and who wouldn’t opt for the aptly named “Driving Home for Christmas” by Chris Rea?’

The most popular tunes are:

1. Fairytale Of New York – Pogues Ft Kirsty MacColl

2. Driving Home for Christmas – Chris Rea

3. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

4. Last Christmas – Wham!

5. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard

6. Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade

7. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Mel and Kim

8. Step Into Christmas – Elton John

9. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like – Michael Buble

10. Underneath The Tree – Kelly Clarkson