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As fuel prices remain high, it is possible to adjust the way we drive to help keep the tank fuller for longer.
It’s easier on your wallet and the environment, through reduced emissions.
Avoid hard accelerating, which increases petrol consumption dramatically, and unnecessary braking, which wastes the energy that has been used to get the car up to speed. If you can travel on a less congested route, this will also help.
Driving in a lower gear than necessary and revving the engine hard wastes fuel in a manual car. In an automatic car, the transmission will shift up through the gears quicker if you ease back on the accelerator once you have enough speed.
Where possible and safe, turn on cruise control at a speed slightly below the limit. Wind resistance, and therefore fuel use, increases quickly at higher speeds.
Air conditioning increases fuel use by about 10 per cent. But once you get above 80kmh, switching it on low is more fuel efficient than an open window, due to increased wind resistance.
If it’s too low, your car has to work harder against increased rolling resistance. An annual wheel alignment is also a wise move. It’s also a good idea to remove any unnecessary weight, such as golf clubs or tools left in the boot.
Stop at the first click of the fuel nozzle, because any excess can be spilled or could potentially damage the vehicle’s fuel vapour control system. And finally, service your car regularly to keep fuel use and emissions to a minimum.
Last updated October 2026. First published June 2018
