Take a look at our advice below for ways to reduce your fuel consumption.
Plan your journey before setting off – utilise website and sat-nav information to plan the best route avoiding, where possible, congestion and roadworks. See our traffic alert service for help with this.
Remove any unnecessary loads – the extra weight increases fuel consumption
Check tyre pressures regularly – under-inflated tyres are dangerous, wear out more quickly and increase fuel consumption
While you're driving:
- Drive calmly – avoid harsh braking and acceleration. Pulling away too fast can use up to six per cent more fuel
- Concentrate, observe, anticipate – maintain a smooth driving style that avoids accidents and saves fuel
- Brakes to slow, gears to go – slow the vehicle using the brakes, engage the correct gear for your speed and by-pass all intermediate gears
- Don’t pump the accelerator or rev the engine unnecessarily
- Skip-shift (block shift) gears where it is safe to do so
- Pull away in the right gear
- Use cruise control on open roads and where it is safe to do so
- Switch off the engine in traffic jams and whilst waiting at levels crossings
- Watch your speed – always travel at a safe speed according to the conditions. Remember the speed limit is a maximum in relevant conditions, not a target at any cost
- Know your average miles per gallon (MPG)
View our fuel efficiency briefing note for more tips and advice on reducing your fuel consumption.