Whether it is a journey for work or a road trip as part of a holiday, the costs incurred as a result will be at the back of your mind and if they’re of particular concern, it is nice to know how to limit what you have to spend along the way.
There are various methods to ensure that costs are as small as possible and rely on both common sense and discipline. Numerous elements will affect the journey and some you won’t be able to control, but those that you can will easily save you money.
Driving style
This is the most obvious basis of saving money when driving long distances and your mannerisms whilst driving will dictate how much money you can keep in your wallet.
Driving smoothly is the key issue here and it is imperative not to drive aggressively; make sure not to accelerate away too quickly and raise the revs, nor brake suddenly as this will aid efficiency. Try your hardest to keep the car rolling as much as possible when you’re slowing down, as starting from a stationary position uses more fuel.
Reducing your speed on the motorway will save a substantial amount of fuel. Travelling at an average speed of 65mph instead of 75mph will use approximately 25 per cent less fuel as slower speeds means less air resistance.
In any vehicle, changing gear before your revs hit 3000rpm is a great way of cutting down on fuel consumption. If you can change before 25000rpm, that would be even better. A combination of changing gear slowly and accelerating smoothly will also help.
Weight and aerodynamics
If you’re going on holiday, there’s a good chance you’ll need to utilise your roof rack, but it is very important to limit the amount of objects that would add resistance. Having a roof box that is shaped to aid aerodynamics would be the best idea. Remember to keep windows up as well if you can help it.
Carrying only what you need will aid the car in its progress and so doesn’t have to use more fuel lugging around a heavier weight. If on a job for work, only take the necessary tools and equipment, and don’t forget your fleet fuel cards from directfuels.co.uk to save further money.
Car maintenance
Tyre pressure can really make the difference whether your car is running efficiently or not. Pressures that are too high or too low will make it harder for the car to run on the road and you ideally need to adhere to the pressures in your car’s handbook.
Make sure things like oil and coolant levels are also correct otherwise this will not only affect car efficiency, but also damage the car’s equipment and harm it internally.