Ways to Reduce your Petrol Bill

18/01/2012
Whilst petrol prices remain high we all are trying to find ways to reduce our ever growing petrol bills.  With the average tank of petrol now costing £70 and this is only expected to rise so that in 2015 it will be around £100.  The outlook is not good, so what can we do to help conserve petrol.


One of the biggest changes we can make it to alter our driving habits.  By driving more slowly between 50 and 60mph you will be driving your vehicle at its most efficient.  55mph is the industry wide test speed for the best fuel economy on a car!   Reducing your speed could save on an average of 8 per cent on fuel bills, which equates to £50 to £100 per year on average.

During the summer months, turning off your air conditioning and opening your windows can improve fuel efficiency by a further 8 per cent. Air conditioning uses up fuel, so making sure that it is correctly switched off could help you save.
Drivers should also avoid sharp acceleration or breaking when driving. By anticipating traffic flow you can reduce your consumption. Also, if your car has a 'cruise control' setting it can save fuel by using it on longer journeys - it helps iron out unnecessary accelerating and braking.  If you're likely to be at a standstill for more than three minutes then switch off the engine.

Believe it or not by removing excess clutter from your car and taking off roof racks t you can reduce the weight of your car and save fuel as this makes your car lighter. 
Ensuring your vehicles tyres are correctly inflated saves on petrol, as under inflated tyres create more resistance when your car is moving, which means your engine has to work harder, so more fuel is used. Driving with soft tyres can add up to 2 per cent to your fuel bills.

Petrol prices to vary from garage to garage, with supermarkets generally being cheaper.  Supermarket promotions are another way of cutting the cost of petrol, with money off vouchers per litre when you spend £50 in store.

Finally when it comes to buying a new car, as well as checking the  car insurance group, be sure to consider the car's fuel economy. The difference between a fuel efficient and not-so-efficient £10,000 car can be about £12 a week. You will also save more on car tax under the car disc rules.

To save money on your car insurance, visit Compare Insurers to compare car insurance quotes online from top insurance providers and see if you can beat the postcode black list and find the cheapest motor insurance to suit your individual requirements.