Ten driving habits that cut your fuel bill

The cheapest fuel is the fuel you never burn. Before you hunt for a cheaper pump, look at how you drive. None of these habits need new kit, and most also make driving calmer.

Smooth beats fast

• Accelerate gently. Hard acceleration is one of the biggest fuel wasters. Pull away smoothly and change up early in a manual.
• Look ahead. Read the road so you can lift off early instead of braking late. Every time you brake, you throw away energy you paid for.
• Keep a steady speed. On motorways and highways, cruise control helps on flat roads. On hills, ease off and let speed drop a little rather than forcing it.

Speed costs more than you think

Air resistance rises sharply with speed. Dropping from 75 to 65 mph on a long run usually makes a noticeable difference to your fuel use and only adds a few minutes to most trips.

Lighten the load

• Clear out the boot or trunk. Extra weight means extra fuel, every mile.
• Take roof boxes and racks off when you're not using them. They add drag even when empty.

Look after the car

• Check tyre pressures monthly and before long trips. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and wear out faster. Use the pressures in your handbook or on the door pillar.
• Keep up with servicing. A clean air filter, fresh oil and healthy spark plugs all help an engine run efficiently.

Plan the trip

• Combine errands into one trip. A warm engine is more efficient than a cold one, so several short cold starts cost more than one longer loop.
• Avoid idling. If you'll be stopped for more than a minute and it's safe, switch off.
• Use air conditioning sensibly. At low speeds, opening a window is usually cheaper. At motorway speeds, windows down add drag, so the air con is often the better choice.

See the difference

Try these for a few weeks, then work out your real MPG and plug it into the calculator. Seeing the saving in money terms is the best motivation to keep going.