10 thrifty motoring tips to help drivers save hundreds of pounds a year
DRIVERS are being hit hard at the pumps, with fuel prices reaching record highs.
This week the AA revealed the average price for petrol has topped 148p per litre for the first time. And the cost of diesel soared to 151.57p per litre.
That means the cost of filling up a family car’s tank is now more than £80, up from £59 in May 2020 at the height of lockdown.
With people already facing a cost-of-living squeeze, drivers need to slash their spending to keep their wheels on the road.
Follow Simon Read’s thrifty motoring tips to save hundreds of pounds a year.
Get cheaper fuel
DO not simply fill up at your nearest petrol station. Find a local one with the best prices.
Rod Dennis, of the RAC, says: “Get to know the fuel retailers near you and look beyond the supermarkets. Some independent retailers can be cost-competitive too. Taking a small detour to a cheaper forecourt can save you a few pence per litre. Over 12 months’ motoring, that could be a sizeable saving.”
The average driver uses 880 litres a year, so a 5p saving per litre could add up to £41.
Don’t travel too far. The further you drive, the more petrol you use, wiping out any savings.
SAVE: £41 a year
Make car economical
THERE are a number of things you can do to make your motor more economical to drive, according to Alex Kindred of comparison site .
He says: “Remove excess weight from your car.
“Empty the boot of items you don’t need and take out bike racks to make your car lighter.”
And don’t leave the engine idling when the vehicle is stationary.
Alex added: “You’ll burn less fuel if you just turn off your engine.”
SAVE: £50 a year
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Use petrol price app
USE apps and websites such as PetrolPrices, Waze and the AA app to find the best prices.
Ru Roberts, of driving directions app Waze, says: “Users can search for fuel stations along their route and filter by distance, price or brand.
“We can also help motorists avoid the forecourts with the most traffic around them, so drivers don’t need to make unnecessary extra journeys.”
PetrolPrices reckons users can save £225 a year by using its app.
SAVE: £225 a year
Drive sensibly
ADJUST the way you drive to reduce the amount of fuel you use.
Rod Dennis, of the RAC, says: “Avoid heavy accelerating and braking, which consume more fuel than if you are driving more fluidly.”
Drivers who pre-empt hazards and maintain momentum also save money.
The more effectively you can anticipate how traffic conditions are changing ahead of you, the less braking and accelerating you need to do – and the less you will pay in fuel.
SAVE: £50 a year
Find cheaper parking
LUCY SHERLIKER, of car finance firm Zuto, says: “A quick and easy way to keep costs down is to research the cheapest places to park.”
Prices vary considerably but Zuto says Wolverhampton is the cheapest city, with an average cost of just £1.90 a day.
The City of London is most expensive, at an incredible £53.80 a day.
But even within areas themselves, prices can vary dramatically. In Birmingham, for instance, prices swing from £2 a day to £24. That could lead to a daily saving of £20 by finding the cheapest place to park.
Download the free app AppyParking to find the most affordable spots near you.
SAVE: £20 a day
Share your motor
SHARING lifts and car pooling are simple ways to cut the financial burden of journeys.
If you drive into work, check there for a colleague you can link up with.
Use to work out the cost of your journey by car.
The site reckons a 50-mile return trip to work would cost around £8, so sharing it would save you £4 a day.
Do that every work day and you would save £20 a week, or around £1,000 a year.
SAVE: £1,000 a year
Save on vehicle tax
IF you are not planning to use your car for a while and are keeping it in the garage, get a Statutory Off Road Notification, or Sorn for short.
You simply tell the DVLA your car is not parked on or being used on public roads.
That will save you paying vehicle tax and you will get a refund for any full months that are remaining.
But you cannot use your motor on the road until you tax it again.
SAVE: £155 a year
Shop for insurance
NEVER automatically agree to your insurer’s renewal quote.
Ask it for discounts or a price reduction then check with other firms to find out what they can offer you.
Simon Lancaster of broker SJL Insurance Services says: “Make sure you get alternative quotes on your car insurance and at least three quotes. This can often save you hundreds of pounds – and in some rare cases, thousands.”
SAVE: Hundreds of pounds
Pay-as-you-drive policies
IF you are already using your car less to save cash and drive fewer than 7,000 miles a year, you could save even more by switching to an insurer that charges by the mile.
James Blackham, of pay-as-you-go-insurer By Miles, says: “You’ll typically pay an upfront fee to cover the car while it’s parked, then a few pennies per mile for what you actually drive.”
You will be sent a “black box” to measure your miles and premiums will be based on how far you drive.
Comparison site Finder reckons drivers can save up to £258 a year by making the switch.
SAVE: £258 a year
Check your tyres
INFLATE your tyres to their proper pressure. The surface area that is in contact with the road increases when a tyre is under-inflated and the more surface area that is in contact with the road, the more drag on the wheel.
While checking your tyres, make sure the tread is above the legal limit – 1.6mm all the way around the tyre.
Tony Rich, of the AA, says: “Using the outer rim of a 20p coin to measure between the tread is a handy tip.
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“Driving with badly worn tyres can land you with a hefty fine and points on your licence.”
SAVE: £50 a year