Save Money On Petrol
Tips To Save Money On Petrol | Find Cheapest Petrol Prices | Improve Fuel Economy
Find The Best Petrol Prices Near Where You Live
The cost of fuel in the UK is reaching exhorbitant levels. In the past 6 months since July 2010, the cost of petrol has risen by about 12% - and now stands at around £1.30 per litre depending on where you fill up.
There seems to be little we can do to stop it, but there are some things you can do to help reduce the hole fuel is burning in your pocket.
Keep your car or van serviced and running properly.
A vehicle that’s misfiring or not in running as well as it could, burns much more fuel. Make sure your tires are inflated at the correct pressure – either under-inflated or ever-inflated, both will hurt your fuel economy.
Turn off the engine when sitting still
Dont’t leave your engine running when you are just sitting still. If you stop to pick up the kids from school and know you’ll be sitting for ten minutes … turn the engine off. Do the same if you’re sitting in a traffic jam. Both help to reduce fuel wastage.
Don’t overdo the air-con
Use the air-con sparingly as it drags on the engine and causes it to use more fuel. Another fuel efficiency is to keep the windows up. People often don’t realize that the drag caused by having the windows open when you’re driving, in most cases uses more fuel than air conditioning.
Shop around for the best prices
Petrol prices vary markedly from station to station. As you’re driving around, make a habit of checking petrol prices. All petrol stations post their prices in big signage on the forecourt, making it easy for you to spot a good price. Make a mental note of the best prices and aim to buy your petrol there.
Avoid buying on motorway services if possible – prices can be 10-15p per litre more expensive than a local petrol station. That an extra £7.50 to fill up a 50-litre tank.
Here’s a great site to help find the best prices ... and you can even download an app to your smartphone, so you can always find the best price wherever you are. Search UK Petrol Prices for free on PetrolPrices.com
Buy the right fuel for the vehicle
Don’t buy the higher-grade of fuel unless your vehicle needs it.
Most vehicles can run perfectly well on regular unleaded petrol or regular diesel. Check your owner’s manual but chances are, unless you’re driving a fuel-guzzling performance vehicle, if you’re filling up on “super” grade you’re just wasting your money.
Don’t weigh the vehicle down
Don’t keep your vehicle loaded with heavy unnecessary items. Van drivers and tradesmen can be particularly guilty of this. If you aren’t using stuff, take it out of the vehicle.
Don’t be a “boy racer”
We all know it’s fun to burn someone off at the traffic lights (or at least I find it fun, which probably makes me very sad!), but one of the biggest causes of poor fuel economy is over-acceleration. To reduce fuel use, accelerate normally at traffic lights and junctions and avoid jerky stopping and starting and breaking.
Share the cost
If you have a fair distance to drive, why not get together with work colleagues and form a car pool. That way, you can all share the cost and cut down on the wear and tear on your vehicle.
Use the car less
If you’re anything like me, you go everywhere in the car … even if it’s just a 5-minute journey. A cheaper – and healthier – option is to actually walk, or even cycle.
Another often forgotten mode of transport when you have your own vehicle is public transport. Check out the local buses and trains. They can be surprisingly convenient and if you’re going into town can even save on the parking.