Simple fuel pump trick to make sure you never put in too much petrol

PUTTING the right amount of petrol in your car is even more important now prices are at record levels.

But any driver knows how difficult it is to try and stop the fuel flowing at just the right moment.

Getting it wrong can cost you.

If you've only got a certain amount of cash in the bank or in your wallet, you can't afford to put more petrol in your tank than anticipated.

But getting the dial to stop at exactly the right moment takes some skill.

It's easy to overshoot the mark and end up spending more than you mean to.

That's particularly the case now drivers are paying upwards of £1.40 a litre for fuel.

Luckily, there's a simple trick that can make sure you fill up just the right amount every time.

A little-known button on the fuel pump will help you fill your car the exact amount you want to, but it's often overlooked by motorists.

There is a setting on the forecourt fuel pump that will let you set a limit on how much petrol goes in your car when you fill up.

If you're at a pump with a keypad, you need to press a key to enter the amount you want to fill up by.

You can select either a monetary amount, or the number of litres you want to put into your car.

Then simply fill up as usual, safe in the knowledge you won't accidentally overspend.

What limit you can set and how it works will vary depending on the forecourt.

For example, according to Shell's website, you can set a limit when using the Pay at Pump option from between £15 up to a full tank at its forecourts.

Elsewhere you may be able to spend less.

And if you've not yet got to the fuel station, we've looked at six ways to make your tank of petrol last longer.

We also have some simple ideas to help drive down your petrol costs.

And the very simple trick that you'll want to know if you forget which side of your car the fuel filler cap is on.