Fuel Saving & Economy Driving Techniques

Which driving technique can help you save fuel?

Q: Which driving technique can help you save fuel?

Smooth acceleration, anticipating traffic to avoid unnecessary braking, changing up to higher gears early, and keeping motorway speeds at 60–65 mph are the most effective fuel-saving techniques. Together they can reduce fuel consumption by up to 30%.

CheckFuelPrices Editorial Expert Written • 4 industry sources

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Smooth, anticipatory driving is the single most effective technique for saving fuel. Avoiding harsh acceleration and braking, maintaining steady speeds, and using higher gears earlier can realistically cut your fuel consumption by up to 30%.

Acceleration and Braking

Accelerate gently: Flooring the accelerator uses significantly more fuel than building speed gradually. Aim to accelerate smoothly and progressively, especially from a standstill. 2

Read the road ahead: Anticipating traffic lights, roundabouts, and slower vehicles lets you ease off the throttle early rather than braking hard. Coasting to a stop burns virtually no fuel in modern fuel-injected engines. 3

Avoid unnecessary braking: Every time you brake you lose kinetic energy that took fuel to build. Maintaining a larger following distance gives you time to adjust speed without touching the brake pedal. 4

Gear Choice and Engine Speed

Change up early: Shifting to a higher gear as soon as it is comfortable — typically around 2,000 rpm for diesel and 2,500 rpm for petrol — keeps the engine in its most efficient rev range. 3

Avoid labouring the engine: While high gears save fuel, dropping too low in speed for the gear causes the engine to strain. Shift down before the engine starts to struggle. 4

Use engine braking: Lifting off the throttle while still in gear uses little or no fuel on modern engines, making it far more economical than freewheeling in neutral. 2

Speed and Motorway Driving

Stick to 60–65 mph on motorways: Aerodynamic drag increases sharply with speed. Driving at 70 mph uses up to 9% more fuel than 60 mph, and 80 mph uses up to 25% more. 2

Use cruise control where appropriate: On flat motorways, cruise control maintains a steadier speed than the human foot, reducing the small speed fluctuations that waste fuel. 4

Make Every Technique Count at the Pump

Good technique works best with low prices: Eco driving reduces how many litres you need, but the price per litre still matters. Even a 5p-per-litre difference adds up to £3–£4 on a typical fill. 1

Find the cheapest station near you: CheckFuelPrices shows live petrol and diesel prices at 4,000+ UK stations updated every 30 minutes, so you can pair efficient driving with the best pump price in your area. 1