10 ways to improve your fuel economy and spend less

Finding a cheap station is only half the battle. How you drive and maintain your car can make a 10-20% difference to your fuel economy. Here are 10 practical tips that genuinely work.

Driving habits

• Accelerate gently — harsh acceleration is the single biggest fuel waster. Pulling away smoothly can improve economy by 10-15%.
• Maintain a steady speed — use cruise control on motorways where safe. Constant speed changes burn more fuel than maintaining a steady pace.
• Anticipate the road — look ahead and coast to red lights rather than braking late. Every time you brake, you waste the energy you used to accelerate.
• Stick to speed limits — driving at 70mph uses roughly 9% more fuel than 60mph. At 80mph, it's about 25% more than 70mph.
• Use higher gears — change up early. Most modern cars are most efficient between 1,500-2,500 RPM.

Vehicle maintenance

• Check tyre pressure monthly — under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and can reduce fuel economy by 3%. Check when tyres are cold.
• Remove unnecessary weight — every 50kg of extra weight costs roughly 1-2% in fuel economy. Clear out the boot.
• Remove roof bars when not in use — roof bars and boxes create aerodynamic drag, increasing fuel consumption by 5-10% at motorway speeds.
• Keep up with servicing — a well-maintained engine runs more efficiently. Old spark plugs, dirty air filters, and degraded oil all reduce economy.
• Use air conditioning wisely — air con can add 5-10% to fuel consumption. At low speeds, open the windows. At high speeds, use air con (open windows create more drag at speed).

Combining savings

If you combine better driving habits with finding cheaper stations on PumpSaver, the savings multiply. A 10% improvement in fuel economy plus filling up at a station that's 5p cheaper could save you over £300 a year. That's a meaningful amount for most households.