The cost of filling up your vehicle with petrol or diesel has skyrocketed. This was on the rise well before the war between Russia and Ukraine, but that certainly hasn’t made the situation any better. With many of us relying on our cars and vans to get around, how can be afford this cost of living rise on fuel? Let’s have a look at how you can save money on fuel by making some simple changes whilst also finding the cheapest place for petrol near me.
How To Find Your Cheapest Petrol Station?
One of the best ways to save money on the petrol or diesel that you put in your vehicle is to find the cheapest place that is selling it. Your local area will have different petrol stations and they will likely all charge different amounts. The average price at the moment is 1.55 per litre for petrol and £1.61 per litre for diesel. It’s a huge jump on where it was even a year ago. However there are reports of some places selling it close to £2 a litre. Shop at a station a couple of hundred yards down the road and you could save money. A 5p difference on a 40 litre top up is £2. It’s easy to see how we can be overpaying.
Obviously you don’t want to be driving 5 miles to get a cheaper deal, as you’ll use 5 miles worth of fuel there and another 5 coming back. One top tip is to sign up with the website Petrol Prices. They also have a free app you can use on the go to find cheapest place for petrol near me. You can then see what prices are all around you and in your local area. That way you can see where the cheapest fuel is on the route you will be driving soon. If you are going on a long trip you can work out the best place to fill up. Figuring out the cheapest place on your route might take a bit of time but it is a great way to save money right now.
Saving Money On Fuel Tips
Of course, the cost of fuel you put in your vehicle is important. However, driving in an efficient manner is also important. Driving carefully is one of the best ways to save on fuel in your car. The more you use your brake, the more you’ll have to speed up again. Careful and aware driving will help you to conserve fuel and save money.
Take anything out of the vehicle that you do not need. A heavier load will require more fuel to get it up to speed. Take the gym gear, pushchair and golf clubs out of the boot if you don’t need them on that journey. Remove bike rakes and top boxes which add weight and cause drag, meaning you burn more fuel. Close windows as well. Be sure to turn off your aircon when you don’t need it as this uses fuel.
Plan Your Journey
Use real time data to plan your trip. Sitting in traffic with your engine running is using fuel and not getting you anywhere. Find the best route for you in the here and now.
Check your tyre pressure often to ensure it is correct. This will help your car perform better. You should also be sure to service your vehicle regularly.
Don’t worry about warming up your engine. Use de-icer to clear the outside of your windows and an old towel to remove condensation on the inside. You can even put cat litter crystals in an old tied up sock, placed on your dashboard, to help keep condensation at bay.
Get Rewarded
If you fill up at supermarket stations it is often cheaper. You can also usually claim points by beeping your Clubcard. Find other reward schemes which will give you bonuses for filling up with them.
Never fill up at service stations on the motorway as they are extremely expensive. If you are able to, come off the motorway and find a station in town. Use that app to find the cheapest place for petrol near me. This detour is worth it to same up to 40p+ per litre!
Off The Road
Unrelated to fuel, however you should look at how you pay your road tax. If you pay it monthly or every six months you will pay more in the long run. Paying annually and outright will be cheaper. If you don’t have the money for that, consider a 0% card which will allow you to pay in one go and then clear the balance over the next couple of months without adding any interest.
You could also consider walking more often to refrain from needing to use your vehicle. Our cars are convenient. They get us to where we need to be quicker than our own legs do. However right now, organising your schedule to allow yourself to walk is probably better than paying for the cost of fuel.
Car Conclusion
There are lots of ways we can drive more effectively to keep fuel in your tank and money in your pocket. Part and parcel of owning a car is putting fuel into it. However we can be clever in the way that our cars use the fuel. Drive better, find the cheapest place for petrol near me and decide when you should drive and when you shouldn’t.
