Fuel Saving & Economy
Tips
How to save fuel
CheckFuelPrices Editorial
Expert Written • 4 industry sources
The fastest ways to save fuel are to drive smoothly, keep tyres correctly inflated, and fill up at the cheapest station near you. Small changes to your driving style and vehicle maintenance can cut fuel consumption by 10–30%.
Drive More Efficiently
Accelerate gently:
Harsh acceleration is one of the biggest fuel wasters. Pulling away smoothly and building speed gradually can make a significant difference to your fuel bill.
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Change gear early:
Shifting up a gear between 2,000–2,500 rpm keeps the engine working efficiently. Higher gears at lower speeds reduce fuel consumption on most petrol and diesel cars.
3
Anticipate traffic:
Reading the road ahead and coasting to a stop rather than braking sharply saves the kinetic energy your engine worked hard to build. Avoid unnecessary acceleration between junctions.
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Stick to speed limits:
Driving at 70 mph uses up to 25% more fuel than 60 mph and up to 40% more than 50 mph. Motorway speeds have a dramatic effect on fuel economy.
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Keep Your Car in Good Shape
Check tyre pressure regularly:
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and can raise fuel consumption by up to 3%. Check pressures monthly and before long journeys using the figure in your vehicle handbook.
3
Remove unnecessary weight:
Every extra 50 kg increases fuel consumption by around 2%. Remove heavy items from the boot when you don't need them.
4
Take off roof racks and boxes:
An empty roof rack increases aerodynamic drag and fuel use even when nothing is loaded. Remove it when not in use.
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Avoid idling:
Leaving the engine running while stationary wastes fuel with zero forward progress. Modern engines are more efficient restarting from cold than idling for more than a minute.
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Plan Your Journeys and Fuel Stops
Combine short trips:
Cold engines use more fuel. Combining multiple errands into one trip means the engine stays warm and runs more efficiently throughout.
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Buy fuel at the cheapest station:
Petrol and diesel prices can vary by 10p or more per litre between stations in the same town. Filling a 50-litre tank at the cheapest station rather than the most expensive can save £5 or more per fill.
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Use live price data:
CheckFuelPrices shows live prices at 4,000+ UK stations updated every 30 minutes, so you can find the cheapest petrol or diesel near your postcode before you leave.
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Sources
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