How you can maximise your driving efficiency to save up to £800 per year.
When you use your vehicle for your work, we know how important it is for you to keep your vehicle costs under control. Although you can’t avoid paying for work-related expenses like insurance or fuel, there are a number of things you can do to help reduce how much you spend. If you're a fleet owner, operating a business with a number of cars or vans, fuel savings can add up to significant amounts across your fleet.
In this post, we’ll look at some of the ways you can cut your fuel costs and we’ll give you some top tips on how to drive as efficiently and safely as possible. Following these tips could see savings of up to 20%, which can add up to around £800 per year.
Anticipate ahead
A quick and easy way to improve your efficiency is to drive in as high a gear as you can as long as it’s safe to. In addition to this, you should always try to anticipate the road ahead. Look out for traffic lights, cars, pedestrians or any other potential hazards, so that you can cut down on harsh acceleration and braking and burn through less fuel.
Watch your speed
Did you know that a vehicle speeding at 80mph on a motorway uses between 10-20% more fuel than one cruising at 70mph? Not only is sticking to the speed limit important in the eyes of the law, it also helps you to drive more efficiently and save money.
Accelerate gently
It’s not only watching your speed which can help cut down your fuel costs, but also how you accelerate. If you’re travelling on a road with speed bumps, it’s better to maintain a consistent speed than to accelerate and brake between each one. Cutting out aggressive racer-style driving is also a great way to reduce the frequency of your trips to the petrol station.
Improve your aerodynamics
When your vehicle encounters a lot of wind resistance, it will increase the amount of fuel your car uses. Keeping your windows closed is a good way to minimise your drag, especially if you’re driving at high speeds.
Keep your vehicle light
Any unnecessary weight, such as roof racks, boxes, or any heavy items you’re keeping in the boot can increase your fuel consumption. You may even wish to consider minimising the time you spend driving around with a full tank, as this can also contribute to a reduction in your efficiency. The lighter you make your vehicle, the more you’ll save.
Avoid burning fuel when stationary
When your car isn’t moving, you can save on the amount of fuel you use by cutting the engine, especially if you’re driving in a busy city with lots of traffic. Some newer cars have this feature built in automatically, but if your vehicle doesn’t, you can still maximise your efficiency by keeping your revs down when your vehicle is stationary.
Check your tyres
Maintaining your tyre pressure by keeping them pumped will help reduce their wear over time as well as the amount you spend on fuel. It’s always important to check your tyre pressure before you set off on a long journey, but when you’re using your vehicle for work, regular pressure checks are a great way to make sure you’re not burning any unnecessary fuel.
Don’t warm the engine
On a cold Winter’s day, it’s tempting to leave your engine to warm up to de-ice your car. However, it’s far better for your fuel consumption to use a deicer spray or windshield scraper. Click here for some more top tips on how to drive in bad weather conditions.
Following these simple tips can help you save hundreds of pounds on fuel every year, but there are many more ways you can cut down on your costs. Click here to find out more about how Zego can help provide you with an insurance solution that works for you.
For more information about how Zego's cover can help your fleet save money on fuel, you can visit our Fleet insurance page.