Fuel Prices Are Rising Again: 10 Simple Ways to Make Your Tank Last Longer

Payday might have arrived, but if you’re a driver, there’s one expense taking a noticeably bigger bite out of the monthly budget again: fuel.

UK pump prices have risen sharply during September. RAC figures published on 15 September put average petrol at 170.54p per litre and diesel at 192.86p, with the cost of filling a typical family car around £94 for petrol and £106 for diesel. 

So while we can’t control the price displayed on the forecourt, there are a few simple things we can do to help make each tank go a little further. And with payday here, now feels like a good time to start.

1. Shop around before you fill up

The nearest petrol station isn’t always the cheapest. It can be worth checking prices locally before you set off, particularly if you’re planning a full tank rather than just topping up.

Earlier this month, RAC analysis found that supermarket fuel was around 4p per litre cheaper on average than the wider market, while some independent forecourts were cheaper still. A few pence might not seem much at first, but across a full tank and repeated fill ups, it adds up.

2. Keep an eye on your tyre pressures

Underinflated tyres create more rolling resistance, which means your engine has to work harder to move the car. Check your tyre pressures regularly and use the recommended figures for your vehicle, which you’ll usually find in the handbook, inside the fuel flap or around the driver’s door area.

It’s a quick job and one that’s worth building into your regular car checks.

3. Drive smoothly

Hard acceleration followed by heavy braking uses more fuel than driving smoothly and anticipating what’s happening ahead.

Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front, accelerate gently and ease off the accelerator earlier when you know you’ll need to slow down. It’s better for your fuel consumption and can make the journey feel a lot calmer too.

4. Don’t carry around things you don’t need

Have a look in your boot. Are you permanently transporting half the contents of the garage? Extra weight means the engine has more work to do, so removing things you don’t actually need can help.

We’re not suggesting you strip the car bare every morning. But if the boot is still full of things from a trip you took three weeks ago, this might be your reminder to finally take them out.

5. Plan journeys before you leave

Getting lost isn’t just annoying. It can mean extra miles and extra fuel. If you’re visiting somewhere unfamiliar, check your route beforehand and look out for roadworks, closures or heavy traffic.

If several errands can be done in one trip rather than making multiple separate journeys, even better.

6. Avoid unnecessary idling

If you’re safely parked and likely to be waiting for a while, there’s little point leaving the engine running unnecessarily. Modern cars don’t generally need long periods of warming up before setting off either.

Follow the guidance for your particular vehicle and switch off where it’s safe and appropriate to do so.

7. Think about air conditioning and open windows

Both can affect how efficiently your car travels, depending on the situation. At lower speeds, opening a window may be perfectly reasonable. At higher speeds, open windows can increase aerodynamic drag, while air conditioning also uses energy.

There’s no need to spend the journey uncomfortable just to save pennies, but using heating and cooling sensibly can help.

8. Look after your car

A properly maintained car is more likely to run efficiently. Keep up with servicing, pay attention to warning lights and don’t ignore problems that could affect how the engine or tyres perform. A small maintenance issue can sometimes become a much bigger and more expensive one if it’s left too long.

Which brings us neatly back to payday. Putting aside a little for routine car maintenance might not be the most exciting use of this month’s money, but future you may be very grateful.

9. Think before making very short journeys

For a quick trip around the corner, ask whether you actually need the car. Walking short journeys when practical doesn’t just save fuel. It also means fewer unnecessary cold starts and can be an easy way to add a little more movement into your day.

Obviously, not every journey can be avoided, particularly if you rely on your car for work, family commitments or accessibility. But the odd unnecessary journey can quickly add up.

10. Make every tank count

When fuel prices rise, it’s easy to feel as though there’s very little you can do about it. And ultimately, none of us can control the price of oil or what appears on the forecourt sign.

But we can control where we buy fuel, how we drive and how well we look after our cars. So if payday has just landed in your account, a few small changes now might help make the money you put into the tank stretch just that little bit further.

And right now, every little helps.