How to save money on fuel – 8 tips to try
If you come across this post, then chances are you looking for tips on how to save money on fuel. I won’t blame you, the cost of filling up your petrol tank these days is awfully expensive! Thankfully, there are some ways you can try to help you cut the cost.
If you are keen to find out what you can do to save money on fuel, keep reading!
1. Use discounts
If you shop at one of the major supermarkets, for example, Coles and Woolworths, you will get fuel discounts at affiliated petrol stations.
The discount usually applies for purchases of at least $30 and is printed at the end of your receipt for Coles. With Woolworths, you will be notified on the receipt as well, but your discount is available through their Everyday Rewards card (loyalty card).
The standard vouchers are worth 4 cents off per litre, but they can increase to 8 to 16 cents when combined with some of their promotions. You will have to be careful though, often they trap you into buying food or things you do not need just so you can get “more discounts” which may be counterproductive.
Costco members can also save heaps through the Costco Petrol Stations. It does come with a yearly membership fee, but many patrons claim that they get more than their money’s worth through cheaper fuel all year round.
2. Survey prices
Did you know that petrol prices can vary considerably between gas stations even within the same street and at different times of the week?
Apps and websites like “Petrol Spy”, “MotorMouth” and “Fuel Price” allow drivers to price watch and enable them to pick the cheapest options around them. Try searching Google Play Store or the Apple App Store to discover more apps that serve the same purpose.
Additionally, there may be some websites managed by governments you can check just like the following:
- NSW: fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au
- QLD: RACQ.com.au
- NT: myfuelnt.nt.gov.au
- WA: fuelwatch.wa.gov.au
- TAS: fuelcheck.tas.gov.au
Fuel prices similarly fluctuate depending on the time of the week and month. In Australia, the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission) publish and update petrol price cycles second daily. It aims to monitor petrol prices in the capital cities and keeps you informed of the fuel cycles (anywhere between 14 and 54 days).
Although there have been recent fuel hikes due to the current global situation (Ukraine-Russia war, ongoing Covid-19 pandemic), the current graph on their page suggests that the cheapest time to fill up your car is the first day of the month.
There are suggestions that you can expect to pay about 5 to 15% less mid-week (Tuesday or Wednesday).
3. Drive economically
Plan your driving routes and your regular trips. For example, go grocery shopping on the way home after work. If you visit multiple shops to complete your regular pantry top-up, try to go to a large shopping centre so that you’ll have everything in one place.
Do you still need to go to different locations to get errands done? Use your phone’s maps or Google maps to organise your route. This prevents you from wasting kilometres, saves you time and decreases the wear on your vehicle too. Another tip is to avoid rush hours, the constant stop-go cycle when in traffic burns a lot of petrol.
Your driving habits can greatly influence the amount of fuel you consume. Avoid pressing the accelerator pedal at full force and speeding up quickly from a stop position. Instead, gradually take off and drive gently.
When driving long distances on high-speed highways use cruise control if safe to do so. Consistent speeds are more fuel-efficient for your car.
If you think you’ll help up for a while, avoid idling the car. You can save more fuel if you stop the vehicle completely and then restart the engine when it is still warm.
Some newer cars have feature driving modes that allow for less fuel consumption. This is commonly referred to as ‘comfort’, ‘eco’ or ‘everyday’. In contrast, the ‘sports’ mode will burn more fuel than your standard settings so do not use this if you want to save money on fuel.
4. Attend to car maintenance
Keeping a healthy car does not only ensure you are in a safe vehicle, but also helps you cut your fuel cost. Simply, a poorly maintained car can consume 25% more fuel!
Follow your regular car service schedule as per your owner’s manual. A well looked after car with clean oil will run much more efficiently. Repair any leaks and ensure your tyres are in the good condition and pressure as well. For more detailed tyre care and maintenance, see this.
5. Remove dead weights
Have you been driving around with a huge load of things in your trunk or boot? Please do yourself a favour, sort out your items and carry only the essentials.
If you have a roof rack, tow bar and other accessories, reassess if you need them attached daily. Most often than not, these attachments are only used once or twice a year.
After all, driving a car full of random things is synonymous with you walking around with a heavy backpack. The weight wears you down as you need much more strength to carry on. This is the same for your car.
Did you know an extra 50kg weight on your car costs you around $100 extra petrol per year? This is not even taking into account fluctuation in prices.
6. Get a better car
A newer car may also provide better fuel efficiency especially if your current one is 10 or more years old. Old cars generally consume more fuel than newer ones, particularly these days when we have more environmentally sustainable options.
In recent years, electric and “hybrid” vehicles have hit the market. Electric cars can save you money on fuel as you do not use any. On the other hand, hybrids use less fuel than normal petrol cars.
Of course, getting a “new” car can be expensive but there are situations when more fuel-efficient alternatives may offset the initial expenses. When choosing what car to buy, look at the fuel efficiency rating and the litres consumed per 100 kilometres. Before you upgrade, do the maths to see if this will be the case for you.
A very simplistic computation will go like this: total cost of buying a new car minus fuel savings. However, it is more complicated than this. You will need to add in the maintenance and registration costs of the new car and your old one for a more realistic comparison.
In contrast, consider downsizing your car. Smaller cars are lighter and less powerful. Therefore, they are cheaper to run. Maybe you are a single person driving a 7-seater or a v8 car. It may be smarter to get a standard 5-seat vehicle with a smaller engine.
Furthermore, note that you don’t have to buy brand new, look at demonstrator models or those that are just a year or two old. You may likewise either trade-in or sell your old car to recoup some expenses.
7. Find travel buddies
If you have a friend or workmate who passes by your place on the way to school/work or lives close by, try to discuss a carpool with them.
You can negotiate to split the fuel costs on a trip basis or agree with them on how much you are willing to share. It may be smart to set a rotating schedule, in such a way that the driving and car use is shared around.
True, carpooling may be a hassle at times and takes getting used to but at the most, think of what you can save in the long run (including parking fees!)
8. Ditch the car
One way to save money on fuel is to stop using your car altogether.
There are plenty of other methods to get around. Firstly, if your area has reliable public transport, it could work well for you. Cars do not just need fuel to run, they come with registration and maintenance costs as well. For city dwellers particularly, it is less practical to own a car.
Walking is another option, although less realistic if you have to travel miles. Apart from the health benefits, it allows you to closely explore the area.
If you need to go to your nearby shop and are time-poor, think of using a bike or scooter to travel medium distances. It is a cheaper alternative that likewise allows you to be physically active. There are also electric bikes and scooters which allow you to travel 350 to 400 km on a single charge.
Final thoughts
So there you have it, the 8 ways you can try to save money on fuel.
Are you looking for other ways to save on your daily living expenses?
Read these:
Like this post? Share it with your friends!
Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog for more money-saving tips!
Affiliate Disclosure: I may earn a small commission when you sign-up or buy a product using my links. This is at no extra cost to you.
