Fuel saving guides
Practical advice on cutting your fuel bill: where to find the cheapest petrol near you, whether premium fuel is worth the money, and how to squeeze more miles out of every tank.
Best Apps for Finding Cheap Fuel in the UK
With the cost of motoring rising, finding cheap fuel is essential. We review the top platforms and tools for tracking down the best forecourt prices.
10 Proven Ways to Save Money on Fuel
The ultimate guide to hypermiling, aerodynamics, and forecourt tricks to permanently reduce your motoring bills.
Latest guides
The Aerodynamic Cost of Roof Boxes and Bike Racks
Heading on a staycation? Bolting a roof box or bikes to the top of your car severely disrupts aerodynamics. Find out exactly how much extra fuel it costs you.
Does Cruise Control Actually Save Fuel?
Cruise control is great for resting your legs on long journeys, but does it help your MPG or ruin it? We break down when to use it, and when to turn it off.
Driving on Empty: How Far Can You Go on the Fuel Light?
The fuel light pings on, and panic sets in. We explain exactly how much fuel is left in your reserve, how far you can realistically drive, and why running low damages your car.
Manual vs Automatic: Which Uses Less Fuel Today?
The old wisdom was that manual cars were always better on fuel. But with the invention of 8-speed dual-clutch gearboxes, has the automatic taken the crown?
Engine Idling: How Much Fuel Are You Wasting?
Waiting in the drive-thru, sitting at the school gates, or warming up your car in winter. Find out exactly how much fuel and money engine idling is costing you.
Fuel-Saving Tips for Motorway Driving
Dropping from 80mph to 70mph saves 10-15%. But avoiding the 10.5p motorway services premium saves more. Speed, drag and refuelling compared with real figures.
E10 Petrol Problems: Is Your Car Struggling?
E10 petrol is better for the environment, but it can wreak havoc on older engines. Learn the warning signs of ethanol damage and what you should do about it.
Fuel-Saving Tips for City Driving
Urban driving returns 25-30% worse economy than motorway running. Five habits that recover most of it, why short diesel trips are a problem, and what town fuel costs.
Off-the-Shelf Fuel Additives: Magic Potion or Snake Oil?
Products like Redex and STP promise to clean your injectors and boost MPG for just a few pounds a bottle. But do pour-in fuel additives actually work?
How Much Money Can Eco-Driving Save?
Smoother driving cuts fuel use 10-15%, roughly GBP 150-220 a year. What each habit is actually worth, and four pieces of common advice that save almost nothing.
How Tyre Pressure Affects Fuel Consumption
Tyres 15psi low can add 6% to your fuel bill - about GBP 88 a year. What under-inflation costs by mileage, how to check properly, and why over-inflating is not the fix.
How to Maximise Fuel Efficiency in an Automatic Car
Driving an automatic car requires a different hypermiling strategy than a manual. Discover how to adapt your driving style to get the best MPG out of your auto.
Petrol vs Diesel Running Costs
Diesel costs 21.2p a litre more but returns better economy. Cost per mile compared side by side, where each wins, and the mileage at which diesel starts to pay.
Do Premium Fuels Actually Clean Your Engine?
Premium unleaded and diesel are advertised as "active cleaning" fuels. We look at the science behind detergents and whether they truly remove engine carbon.
How to Calculate Fuel Cost for a Road Trip
Work out any journey in one line: (4.546 divided by mpg) times price per litre. Return costs for common UK routes, plus the four things that make estimates wrong.
How Much Does a Daily Commute Cost?
A 20-mile round trip at 40mpg costs about GBP 842 a year in fuel. Full table by distance and economy, how to calculate your own, and where the easiest saving is.
Supermarket Fuel Loyalty Cards: Are They Worth It?
Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, and Asda Rewards all offer fuel perks. But do these loyalty schemes actually save you money compared to simply shopping around?
Are Motorway Service Station Prices Higher?
Motorway services average 171.4p against 160.9p elsewhere - a 10.5p premium, GBP 5.78 on a 55-litre fill. Measured across 241 motorway forecourts, and when a detour pays.
Is Supermarket Fuel Cheaper?
Supermarkets average 159.1p against 162.1p at the oil majors - a 3p difference. Brand by brand comparison across 7,986 UK forecourts, and whether the fuel differs.
How Petrol Prices Are Calculated in the UK
Nearly half of UK pump prices is tax. See the full breakdown of duty, VAT, wholesale cost and retailer margin in a litre of petrol, with live figures from 7,986 forecourts.
Why Fuel Prices Change
Fuel prices move for four reasons and only one is the oil price. Why pump prices lag crude, why they rise faster than they fall, and what varies street by street.
How to Find Cheaper Fuel Near You
The cheapest station near you is typically 8p to 12p a litre below the dearest - around GBP 5.50 a fill. Five things that work, two that do not, with live UK price data.
Winter Driving: Why Your Car Uses More Fuel in the Cold
Notice your MPG dropping in December? Cold weather severely impacts your cars fuel efficiency. Learn why it happens and how to fight back.
Does Air Conditioning Really Use More Fuel?
The age-old question: Should you roll the windows down or turn the AC up? We break down the physics of aerodynamics vs air conditioning to find the most fuel-efficient choice.
What is B7 Diesel and SDV? Decoding Diesel Pumps
Stand at any diesel pump and you will see stickers for B7 and SDV. Find out exactly what these codes mean and which fuel is right for your diesel engine.
What is Hyper-Local Fuel Pricing?
Why do two Asda stations five miles apart charge different prices? We dive into the algorithmic world of hyper-local pricing and how supermarkets decide what to charge you.
E10 vs E5 Premium Unleaded: Is it Worth the Extra Cost?
Wondering if you should upgrade to Super Unleaded (E5) at the pump? We break down the exact differences, engine benefits, and whether it actually saves you money in the long run.
What is the UK Fuel Finder Data Scheme?
How the new UK legislation forces supermarkets to expose their profit margins to comparison websites.