How to Reduce Your Petrol Costs

The average petrol costs seem to be fluctuating more than ever and some motorists are even considering dumping their cars for public transport in order to save on costs, even if this is a major inconvenience.

But there are ways to make your petrol stretch that little bit further…

1. Give your car a spring clean – Not only will you look even better driving around in a shiny car, you could save yourself money too. Use this as a chance to de-clutter your car; every extra 50kg means that your petrol consumptions rises by an average of 2%! Get rid of any heavy roof racks and bicycle carriers. Not only will this make your car lighter but it will also make your car more streamlined and lower wind resistance – double saving tip here.  Pumping up your tyres to the required standard will also allow you to reduce your petrol costs. Petrol stations usually offer free air to inflate your tyres.
   
2. Get the cheapest possible petrol – Research online to save yourself money. There are a number of websites which are constantly updated to show you where the cheapest petrol pumps are in your area. The difference could be as much as 15p per litre.
   
3. Do you need air conditioning? – Although the recent British summers means that you don’t have much chance to use your air conditioning, you should consider if it is worth using at all. It can increase your petrol consumption by as much as 10%. For a cheaper alternative, turn the normal fan on. But be careful about opening your window if you are travelling over 60mph as the drag will increase your petrol consumption too.
   
4. Slow Down – The faster you go, the higher your petrol consumptions. Driving at 70mph uses up 15% more fuel than going at 50mph. And make sure that you drive smoothly too, acceleration and deceleration use a large amount of fuel, so try to slow down gradually if at traffic lights or reaching a traffic jam.