12 Ways to Cut Your Fuel Bill (Without Buying a New Car)

Fuel is one of the biggest running costs of a car. These twelve steps cost nothing or very little, and together they can make a real difference.

Where you buy

1. Compare prices before you fill. The gap between the cheapest and dearest stations can be 50p a litre or more. Search your postcode.
2. Choose the right type of station. Supermarkets are a few pence cheaper on average, and motorway services about 23p dearer. See are supermarket petrol stations cheaper?
3. Never fill up at motorway services if you can avoid it. Fill before you set off, or leave at a junction. See motorway fuel costs.
4. Do the sum before a detour. Use the break-even sum.
5. Buy the cheaper grade your car allows. E10 is about 18p a litre cheaper than E5 on average. See E10 vs E5.

How you drive

6. Drive smoothly. Accelerate gently, look ahead and let the car roll rather than braking late. See driving style and fuel economy.
7. Keep to the speed limit. Fuel use rises quickly at higher speeds, especially above 60 mph.
8. Avoid idling. If you will be stopped for more than a minute or so, switch the engine off where it is safe and legal.

How you look after the car

9. Check tyre pressures monthly. Under-inflated tyres use more fuel and wear faster. See tyre pressure and fuel economy.
10. Remove what you do not need. Roof boxes, bike racks and heavy items in the boot all cost fuel. See roof boxes, air con and weight.
11. Keep the car serviced. A clogged air filter or old spark plugs can hurt economy, so follow the service schedule in the handbook.

How you plan

12. Combine trips. A cold engine uses more fuel, so one longer trip is cheaper than several short ones.

What is it worth?

At 8,000 miles a year in a 40 mpg petrol car, you spend about £1,540 on fuel at today's prices. Saving:

• 5% is worth about £77 a year
• 10% is worth about £154 a year

Add buying at a station 10p a litre cheaper than your usual one, and on a 55-litre fill every fortnight that is about £143 a year on its own.

Which ones matter most?

For most people the biggest single saving is choosing where to buy, because the price gap is so large. Smooth driving and tyre pressures come next. Roof boxes can matter a lot if you leave one on all year.

Start with the easiest

Pick two or three that suit your routine, and check your fuel use after a month. Our guide on cost per mile shows how to measure your mpg.

Find the cheapest fuel near you today.