1Plus1’s tips to cut your fuel costs use

The Government say they will carefully consider calls for a "more substantial" fuel duty decrease following the 5p-per-litre reduction implemented in March. There are other ways you could cut fuel costs.

Petrol went up over £1.90 per litre, with diesel costing even more. Prices are going down slightly but not a lot!

For some people, things are so bad that they are  unable to afford to fuel to get to work.

We motorists would welcome help from the government but there are some things we can do ourselves to cut our costs in the fuel crisis and cost of living crisis. Here are our 1Plus1’s tips...

Fill up at a supermarket

Every month figures are released by the motoring organisations showing the cheapest places to buy fuel, and supermarkets are almost always the cheapest.

Drive as smoothly as possible

Driving as smoothly as possible, accelerating gently, avoiding excessive speed and braking heavily will maximise your car's fuel efficiency. Most dashboards now tell you your MPG (Miles per Gallon) both live and historic. You could set yourself journey or weekly targets to try and increase this. Remember, the majority of cars are most efficient when driven steadily between 45mph and 50mph.

Hill driving

On hills, gain momentum by accelerating a little before you reach them, then ease off as you drive up. On the downhill slope, ease off on the gas and coast where you can.

Take off roof racks and boxes

Roof racks and roof boxes create wind resistance and raise fuel consumption. When you’re not using it, take it off. An empty roof rack can add 16% drag when driving at 75mph, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Use the air con wisely

It’s very tempting to just leave the air con on all the time. It’s what we get used to in the car. Think about whether you need it. Use the fresh air setting if the temperatures are OK. Look at how often you use air con and heating - they drain fuel. You should also have the air con serviced regularly.

Get rid of the extra weight inside

De-clutter your car. All those things in the boot you “might need” but never do can go. Extra weight means more fuel is needed to power the vehicle.

Inflate your tyres to the right pressure

Regularly check your tyres are inflated to the pressure stated in your owner's manual. Under-inflated or over-inflated tyres cut fuel economy. They can also be dangerous or illegal.

Making a round trip is better

Warm engines are more efficient than cold ones, so making one round trip is better for fuel efficiency than several short journeys, even though the mileage could be the same. Don’t waste fuel warming your engine up before starting off though.

Walk, cycle, run

Do you have to drive? If you can, consider walking or cycling rather than driving for short journeys. A good way to get fit too!