Many of us have vehicles which cost us a lot of money over the course of the year. We can save money on insurance by shopping around and comparing prices. We can find discounts for our MOT and perhaps even have a payment plan for our servicing which will save some cash. One of the things we must do is fuel our cars in order to use them. Whether you use petrol or diesel, how do you save money on your fuel? Let's have a look at how to drive down your petrol cost.
Check The Cost
Find out where the cheapest fuel is being sold for near you. Different parts of the country sell fuel for different prices. Different companies and petrol stations sell their fuel at different prices. Discover where you can top up your tank the cheapest and when you're driving past, be sure to fill up. Consider the price difference compared to the fuel you'll use to get to a specific petrol station. It might not be worth the detour. This is why you need to plan your trips and see what pumps you'll be passing.
Slow Down
Slowing down your driving can help you save petrol. According to research, you can save 25% in fuel by dropping from 80mph to 70mph. Another drop from 70mph to 60mph could save you an additional 10%. You might not get anywhere as quickly you like but you'll drive safer and save petrol costs.
Keep Your Revs Down
How soon do you move up your gears and hence keep your revs low? By going up through your gears you'll save money on fuel by not overrevving your engine. Get into higher gears sooner to avoid overrevving your engine. Driving sensibly and maybe even changing your driving habits can help keep the cost down.
Be Aerodynamic
Cars are designed to be aerodynamic and cut their way through the air well. Wind resistance increases your fuel consumption. You might want the windows open but this can cause drag when you are driving at high speeds. Have you forgotten to take the roof box off the car since you got back from your holiday? It can save you as much as 20% on your fuel bill throughout a year! Obviously towing a caravan will cost more in fuel, but if you take unneeded stuff out of your boot too, otherwise you're spending money on petrol costs to carry around extra unnecessary weight.
Stay On Top Of Maintenance
Car maintenance is important. Looking after the workings of your car will help you drive better. Engine efficiency is important. As is keeping an eye on your tyres. Worn tyres won't work as well and will cause you to use more fuel. Check the tyre pressure too for better fuel efficiency. Look after your car and it will look after your.
Go Electric
Have you considered going electric and getting rid of your petrol costs altogether? Obviously you'll have to plug your car in and charge it with electricity however the research states that that is the area where the majority of the savings are made. You'll also save money on road tax. One negative of this is that the range of cars on one charge is currently less than that of petrol and diesel vehicles.
Go For A Walk
How about ditching the car altogether and walking? Or getting your bicycle out of the garage and dusting off the saddle? Maybe you could car share to cut down the costs, both in terms of money and impact on the environment. Even cutting one or two trips per week will save you money on your petrol costs.
