How to Save Money on Fuel — 10 Easy Tips for UK Drivers

Summary

• Drive smoothly: Gentle acceleration and braking can cut fuel use by up to 30%.
• Keep tyres pumped up: Under-inflated tyres waste fuel and wear out faster.
• Shop around for fuel: Prices vary by up to 10p per litre between nearby stations — use our fuel price finder to compare.
• Remove excess weight: Every 50kg of extra load increases fuel use by about 2%.

Fuel is one of the biggest costs of running a car. The average UK driver spends over £1,200 a year on petrol or diesel. But with a few simple changes, you can cut that bill by hundreds of pounds.

This guide covers the best ways to save money on fuel. All of them are easy to do and most cost nothing.

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Drive More Smoothly

How you drive has a huge effect on how much fuel you use. Aggressive driving — hard acceleration, late braking, and high speeds — can increase fuel consumption by up to 30%.

Accelerate Gently

Press the accelerator slowly. Imagine there is an egg under the pedal. The harder you push, the more fuel you burn. Try to build speed steadily rather than flooring it.

Brake Early

Look ahead and read the road. If you see a red light or a queue, lift off the accelerator early. Let the car slow down naturally before braking. This is called "engine braking" and it uses almost no fuel.

Stick to the Speed Limit

Driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than driving at 60mph. At 80mph, it can use up to 25% more. The sweet spot for fuel economy is usually between 45 and 55mph.

Top tip: Use cruise control on motorways. It keeps your speed steady and stops you from creeping above the limit. This alone can save 5-10% on fuel.

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Keep Your Car in Good Shape

A well-maintained car uses less fuel. Skipping services might save money now, but it costs more in the long run.

Check Your Tyres

Under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance. This means your engine has to work harder. Check tyre pressures at least once a month. The correct pressures are in your car's handbook or on a sticker inside the driver's door.

Under-inflated tyres by just 10 PSI can increase fuel consumption by 2.5%. They also wear out faster, so keeping them pumped up saves you money twice. Read our tyre tread guide for more details.

Get Regular Services

A dirty air filter, old spark plugs, or low engine oil all make your engine work harder. A regular service keeps everything running smoothly. Check our car servicing guide for what to expect and how much it costs.

Use the Right Engine Oil

Using the wrong oil can increase engine friction. Check your handbook for the recommended grade. Most modern cars use 5W-30 or 0W-20 synthetic oil.

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Reduce Weight and Drag

The heavier your car, the more fuel it needs. And anything that makes your car less aerodynamic increases fuel use at speed.

• Remove roof racks and boxes: A roof box can increase fuel consumption by up to 20% at motorway speeds. Take it off when not in use.
• Clear out the boot: Get rid of anything you do not need to carry. Golf clubs, pushchairs, and heavy tools all add up.
• Close the windows: Open windows create drag, especially above 40mph. Use the air vents or air-con at lower settings instead.

Did you know? A roof rack on its own (with nothing on it) adds about 16% to fuel consumption at motorway speeds. Always remove it when you are not using it.

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Plan Your Journeys

Smart route planning can make a big difference to your fuel bill.

Combine Short Trips

A cold engine uses much more fuel than a warm one. Several short trips from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one longer trip. Try to combine your errands into a single journey.

Avoid Traffic

Stop-start driving in heavy traffic is one of the worst things for fuel economy. Use a sat-nav or app to find routes with less congestion. Sometimes a slightly longer route with free-flowing traffic uses less fuel.

Turn Off the Engine

If you are stopped for more than 30 seconds, switch off the engine. Idling uses about 0.6 litres of fuel per hour for a small car and up to 2.5 litres for a larger one. Many newer cars have stop-start systems that do this automatically.

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Find Cheaper Fuel

Fuel prices vary a lot between stations — sometimes by 10p per litre or more. Over a year, that adds up to hundreds of pounds.

Station Type	Typical Price (per litre)	Yearly Cost (12,000 miles)
Supermarket	£1.35 - £1.42	~£1,430
Branded (Shell, BP)	£1.42 - £1.52	~£1,560
Motorway services	£1.55 - £1.70	~£1,720

The cheapest fuel is usually at supermarkets like Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons. Motorway services are almost always the most expensive.

Use our fuel price finder tool to compare prices near you. You could save £100-£300 a year just by filling up at the right station.

Do You Need Premium Fuel?

Premium fuel (like Shell V-Power or BP Ultimate) costs 10-15p more per litre. Most everyday cars do not benefit from it. Unless your car specifically requires it (check the handbook), standard E10 petrol or regular diesel is fine.

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Use Air-Con Wisely

Air conditioning uses engine power to run. At low speeds, it can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%. Here is how to use it wisely:

• At low speeds (under 40mph), open the windows instead of using air-con.
• At higher speeds, close the windows and use air-con. The drag from open windows uses more fuel than the air-con at motorway speeds.
• Park in the shade when you can. A cooler car needs less air-con to cool down.
• Use the "recirculate" setting. This cools the already-cooled air inside the car, rather than pulling in hot air from outside.

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Choose the Right Gear

If you drive a manual car, the gear you choose makes a big difference.

The general rule is simple: change up early, change down late. Most cars are most efficient when you change up between 2,000 and 2,500 RPM. Driving in a higher gear at a lower engine speed uses less fuel.

For example, driving at 40mph in third gear uses about 25% more fuel than driving at 40mph in fifth gear.

If you drive an automatic, use the "Eco" mode if your car has one. It adjusts gear changes and throttle response to save fuel.

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Consider Your Next Car

If you are thinking about changing your car, fuel economy should be a key factor. Here is how different fuel types compare:

Fuel Type	Typical MPG	Best For
Petrol	40-55 MPG	Short trips, city driving
Diesel	50-70 MPG	Motorway miles, long commutes
Hybrid	55-80 MPG	Mixed driving, stop-start traffic
Electric	3-4 miles per kWh	All driving (cheapest per mile)

Electric cars are the cheapest to run per mile. Charging at home costs about 3-5p per mile, compared to 12-18p per mile for petrol. Learn more in our guide to electric car running costs.

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Quick Fuel-Saving Checklist

Here is a quick list you can follow today:

1. Check your tyre pressures this week.
2. Remove any roof racks or heavy items from the boot.
3. Drive more gently — aim for smooth acceleration and early braking.
4. Use our fuel finder to find the cheapest station near you.
5. Combine short trips into one longer journey.
6. Use the right gear — change up early.
7. Book a service if your car is overdue. Check our servicing guide for costs.
8. Turn off the engine when stopped for more than 30 seconds.

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How Much Can You Save?

If you follow all the tips in this guide, you could realistically save £300-£500 a year on fuel. That is a holiday, a new set of tyres, or a nice chunk off your car insurance.

The biggest savings come from driving more smoothly and shopping around for fuel. These two changes alone can save most drivers over £200 a year.

Want to know more about cutting the cost of owning a car? Read our top 15 ways to cut motoring costs guide for even more tips.

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