How to save fuel when driving
Most fuel savings come from a handful of habits: smoother driving, sensible speeds, correct tyre pressures and carrying less. None needs special equipment, and together they can cut fuel use by a noticeable amount on the same journeys.
Updated 14 October 2026
Drive smoothly
Hard acceleration and late braking waste the energy you have just paid for. Looking further ahead, easing off early for lights and roundabouts, and keeping a steady speed is the single biggest saving most drivers can make.
In a manual, change up early; in an automatic, a light right foot lets the gearbox do the same.
Watch your speed
Air resistance rises sharply with speed. Driving at 70mph uses noticeably more fuel than 60mph for the same distance, and the time saved on most journeys is small. Cruise control helps hold a steady speed on motorways.
Tyres, weight and drag
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and wear faster. Check pressures monthly against the figure in your handbook or door frame.
Take out what you do not need: a boot full of sports kit is extra weight on every journey. Remove roof boxes and bars when you are not using them; they add drag even when empty.
Use the car less, and better
Short trips from cold are the least efficient driving there is, because the engine never warms up. Combining errands into one trip helps. So does turning off the air conditioning when it is not needed at low speeds, and not idling for long periods.
Buy fuel well
The cheapest litre is the one you do not buy, but the next cheapest is at the right forecourt. Odomint’s map shows live prices around you and the cheapest station highlighted, and its mileage tracker shows how far you actually drive each month, which is the starting point for any fuel budget.
Maintenance that saves fuel
A car in good order uses less fuel. A clogged air filter, old engine oil and worn spark plugs all cost a little efficiency, and a car pulling to one side may have brakes binding or wheels out of alignment, both of which waste fuel and wear tyres.
Keeping to the service schedule is the simplest protection. A dashboard warning light, especially the engine management light, can also mean the engine is running in a less efficient mode, worth getting checked promptly rather than ignored.
Common questions
Does driving slower save fuel?
Generally yes at motorway speeds. Fuel use rises sharply with speed because of air resistance, so 60mph uses less fuel than 70mph over the same distance.
Do tyre pressures affect fuel economy?
Yes. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which increases fuel use and tyre wear.
Does air conditioning use more fuel?
Yes, it adds load to the engine. At low speeds it is more efficient to use the vents; at motorway speeds open windows add drag, so the difference narrows.
Check any car before you buy it
MOT history, every advisory and the full mileage record are free for any UK registration. An Odomint Check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers and salvage history, with a £10,000 data guarantee.