With high petrol, diesel and electricity prices, making the most of whatever fuel powers your car is now more important than ever. Here are our top money-saving driving tips to improve your car’s efficiency and cut your fuel costs.
1) Accelerate Gently
Instead of giving your car a sudden burst of speed, you’ll save fuel by easing off the accelerator and gently applying pressure in stages. And even if you are driving a manual, try to avoid downshifting (changing from a higher gear to a lower one), which uses up more fuel.
2) Re-Check Your Tyres
Tyre pressure is an important factor in how much fuel your car uses. Underinflated tyres develop more rolling resistance than correctly inflated tyres, so you’ll have to work your engine slightly harder when there isn’t enough air in them. If you have an older car you may need to have your tyres replaced. To save on fuel money, make sure your tyres are at the correct pressure as stated in the car’s handbook
3) Turn down the A/C when you can
Use of your car’s air conditioning can increase fuel consumption, but if you can turn it down a notch or two you’ll save money and help the environment. This is one of the most overlooked money-saving driving tips.
4) Avoid Idling
If you’re stuck waiting for a passenger to run inside a store or any other situation where you might be idling for more than just a minute, go ahead and turn off the engine. In addition to further polluting the air, idling your engine is a major waste of gas.
5) Shop Around For Fuel Prices
You can save many cents per litre – and therefore many dollars over the course of a year – by searching for the cheapest fuel. Get to know the petrol stations in your local area, making a mental note of the price per litre as you drive by. You can find a difference of a few cents on the same street and it might be worth making a small detour to make a big saving.
6) Know Which Roads To Take
Before you hop in your car, make sure you know exactly where you’re headed and which roads to take. If you know a backway to avoid traffic, don’t hesitate to take it. Sitting in traffic with your car engine running is a sure way of burning through your gas tank!
7) Get Regular Car Maintenance
Regularly scheduled car maintenance will help you avoid being stranded by a breakdown, and can also improve the efficiency of your engine. If your car is having trouble starting or is using more fuel than usual, don’t delay getting it checked out.
