The one thing all drivers told they should do to save up to ?268 on petrol

The costs of filling up the car can easily mount up and every driver wants to find the best deal possible when it comes to petrol or diesel. It’s an added expense at a time when many households are finding it tougher to manage with higher energy ^[1] and food costs.

But experts have advised motorists to do one simple thing when it’s time to fill up – shop around. We lead busy lives and when the fuel gauge is getting close to empty, it’s often easiest to just dive into the nearest petrol station to fill up.

But this could be a costly mistake. Getting fuel for cheaper over time can lead to big savings, analysis by Hippo Leasing ^[2] has shown. On average, motorists will save £106 a year by regularly visiting the cheapest forecourts.

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Petrol and diesel is often cheapest at supermarkets and there are websites and apps listing the cheapest garages in your area. Local knowledge means drivers can spot where fuel is cheap and remember where the the most value-for-money places are.

The highest-saving area was Coventry, where if drivers in the city drove 2.11 miles from the centre (for a cost of 23p) they would get the tank for £16.77 cheaper than the most expensive in the city.

The average Brit fills their fuel tank fully 16 times per year. This means if drivers in Coventry went to the cheapest petrol station every time, they could save £268 a year.

Tom Preston, managing director and automotive expert at Hippo Leasing, said: “You aren’t going to get very far without fuel, but there are ways to save on the cost of filling up your car. Driving smoothly, with less stopping and starting will help save the amount of petrol you use.

“Also, keeping tyres properly inflated, and shedding unnecessary weight can significantly reduce the cost of your journey. Don’t wait for your dashboard light to flash to tell you to fill up.

“It will cost you on average 29p to drive an extra few miles to a cheaper station in the area. This would be worthwhile if the savings on pence per litre are dramatic enough.”

References

^{^} energy (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} Hippo Leasing (www.hippoleasing.co.uk)
^{^} Full list of locations of new Midlands ‘smart’ speed cameras as every driver warned (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
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