The lockdown forced us to change our daily habits, and one of those was how often we drove. If you weren’t commuting to work, visiting relatives, or even leaving your local area, you probably weren’t using your car much but now petrol costs have changed.
The UK’s restrictions have recently been lifted, which has resulted in an increased demand for petrol as people look to take staycations this summer.
According to the Guardian, fuel prices in the United Kingdom have reached their highest point since 2013, and they appear to be climbing.
Here are our six tips to help you save on fuel and get the most bang for your buck.
1. Plan your journeys to save on petrol costs
Fuel efficiency is key to keeping money in your pocket, with petrol prices being expensive and anything that makes your car work harder uses more fuel.
That’s where it’s important to consider your trip. The quality of the road surface is crucial. Obviously, road condition isn’t always under your control, but when traveling across a route you’re familiar with, avoid bumpy or hilly routes as much as possible.
Combining routes and saving fuel are two more reasons to use live map. Advance route planning may also help you save money by allowing you to make tandem journeys. Why not combine the visit to the supermarket ten minutes away with your parent’s house across town on the same journey? It’ll save you time as well as money.
2. Check your tyre pressure
For many individuals, the only time they consider their tyre pressure is when that annoying little icon appears on the dashboard to notify them that they need to check their PSI (pounds per square inch).
For the majority of drivers, this is acceptable, but if you want to cut back on fuel prices, then it’s best to be proactive about tyre pressure. Something as small as checking your tyres regularly can have a significant impact on fuel efficiency and save money on petrol prices.
Tyre tread design, as well as the age of your vehicle, are two primary factors that impact fuel efficiency. Tyre tread design, like road quality, has an influence on fuel efficiency. Even somewhat flat tyres can create a drag on your car and cause you to burn more petrol and lose up to 5% in fuel efficiency according to experts. Check your tyre pressure regularly, especially during exceptionally hot or cold weather conditions
3. Don’t idle
Even though you’re in a hurry, hearing the words “don’t idle” might bring back memories of an angry headmaster. Idling is one of the most egregious fuel-wasting sins for drivers looking to save money and spare their wallets.
You’re wasting fuel every time you drive the engine at a traffic light for two seconds, or when you wait for your buddy who promised he’d be “five minutes, promise” to arrive at the door.
You can save on fuel costs by taking measures such as cutting your engine after a set amount of time. Many newer cars have start-stop systems that will do this automatically, but even if yours doesn’t, you can easily do it manually. As a rule of thumb, if you know you’ll be stopped for more than ten seconds, go ahead and turn off your engine.
An unused roof rack will save money by excess weight, so take it off to save money and get more miles to your tank.
4. Watch your speed (and drive smoothly)
Your car uses the most fuel not when it’s going at a consistent speed, but rather when starting from a stop or picking up speed after slowing down.
Another strategy to reduce your petrol expenses is to drive more smoothly. Instead of rapidly accelerating and then braking harshly, try driving at a slower, more constant speed in built-up areas with numerous traffic lights.
On the motorway or on extended trips, make good use of your car’s cruise control. Maintaining a steady speed will keep your vehicle moving and help you avoid that gas-guzzling start-stop driving.
5. Look for the cheapest petrol
It appears to be simple, doesn’t it? All you have to do is use less expensive fuel – isn’t it self-evident?
In fact, it isn’t. While you can’t change the price of a litre of diesel, you may take steps to get the most out of your money by comparing fuel prices to fill your tank and get better mileage.
Shopping around is the first step. As you no doubt realize, different petrol stations charge varied prices for the same fuel. If you don’t already have a favourite petrol station, try looking around for one with the lowest cost. Diesel costs more per litre (or gallon) but has better fuel range.
It’s not as simple as comparing the average price to identify the cheapest option for vehicles. If station A is less expensive than station B, but you will have to drive further to reach it, station B may be a better choice for fuel economy. Supermarkets often have cheaper fuel. Find out for sure using tools like money supermarket’s fuel cost calculator.
6. Go green
Switching to a car that was designed specifically to save petrol and diesel is one of the most effective methods to reduce your fuel expenses.
A hybrid car is one that uses a mixture of electricity and petrol or diesel to power the vehicle. This combination results in less fuel consumption overall.
Hybrids were once only for those who could afford it or cared greatly about the environment. Now, however, they are mainstream cars that anyone can buy. In fact, all major car companies either already have a hybrid model or are working on one—and you can purchase a good quality hybrid for less than £10,000.
If you’re still not sold on the idea, consider this: hybrids preserve their value far better than petrol or diesel-powered cars, and they are up to 30% more fuel efficient. That means that the upfront cost of a hybrid will be offset in the long run by way of money savings.
Fuel pumps often come with a loyalty scheme, this can save you money of the cost per litre when filling up. Look at our other articles where we offer other tips.
