15 Proven Economical Driving Tips to Save Fuel in 2025
The cost of running a car in the UK has never been higher, yet most drivers want to keep their fuel bills as low as possible. As an automotive expert, I say the biggest fuel consumption is not the traffic but the driver behind the wheel.
It is all your driving habits that may drain your fuel tank. So here are some expert tips that could help you save fuel by driving a car.
Key Takeaways: Economical Driving Tips
Master economical driving by shifting early, driving smoothly, avoiding idling, maintaining tyres, reducing load, using cruise control wisely, planning journeys, and leveraging EV or hybrid technology for maximum fuel efficiency.
- Drive Smoothly and Shift Early: Gentle acceleration, anticipatory driving, and changing gears around 2,000 RPM for petrol (1,200–1,800 RPM for diesel) saves fuel.
- Avoid Idling and Use Engine Braking: Turn off your engine when stationary and let the car slow in gear to reduce fuel waste.
- Use Cruise Control and Maintain Safe Distances: Steady speeds on motorways and a two-second following gap improve efficiency and safety.
- Moderate Speeds on Motorways: Driving above 65 mph significantly increases fuel consumption due to aerodynamic drag.
- Check Vehicle Setup: Keep tyres inflated, use low-viscosity engine oil, and remove roof boxes or heavy items when not needed.
- Plan Your Journeys: Combine errands to avoid multiple cold starts and use satnav to avoid congestion.
- Leverage Modern Tech in EVs and Hybrids: Regenerative braking and eco modes maximise efficiency and extend driving range.
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Master the Road: Economical Driving Tips (1-8 tips)
Saving fuel habits does not only start with the car but also with your mindset. These eight habits are also called hypermiling techniques.
Tip 1. Drive smoothly and stick to the speed limit
Most important tip, drive smoothly. As you should know that harsh acceleration and late braking are the main causes of fuel waste on British roads. Studies show erratic driving can increase your fuel consumption by up to 60% compared to a smooth, anticipatory driving style.
Instead, read the road and stick to the limit. Keep a steady pace and use gentle throttle inputs. Staying within the limit will not only save your fuel but also keep you safe.
Tip 2. Early shifting: The 2000 RPM rule
When driving a manual car, drivers hold the gear for too long, and the engine screams up to 3000 or 4000 RPM before changing it. This consumes more fuel.
The best practice is to change, for petrol engines, shift up before the engine reaches 2500 RPM, and for diesel engines, shift up around 2000 RPM. And in automatics, use “eco” mode if available. It automatically changes up earlier to save fuel.
Tip 3. Stop idling: The 60-second rule
Every minute your car is idling, you are burning expensive fuel to travel zero miles. This is pure waste. It roughly burns half a litre if idle for 30 minutes.
Furthermore, a cold engine (like one that has been left running outside the house for 5 minutes) uses twice as much fuel as a warm one. If your car has a stop/start system, trust it. It is designed to save your fuel.
Tip 4. Engine Braking: Don’t Touch the Brake Pedal
Engine braking is one of the simplest yet most efficient ways to drive economically. And still it is the least known technique. It can be performed by lifting your foot off the accelerator and leaving the car in gear. Because the wheels are still turning, the engine, the ECU cuts the fuel supply to zero, but the car continues to slow down.
Tip 5. Use Cruise Control Wisely
Using cruise control mode wisely is the best practice for fuel saving. This is used for maintaining a steady speed, which prevents costly speed fluctuations.
However, use it sensibly. On hilly or winding roads, cruise control can be counterproductive, forcing the engine to work harder uphill and braking downhill. For flat motorways like the M1 or M25, it is perfectly safe to use it.
Tip 6. Keep Your Distance
This is both a fundamental safety measure and a phenomenal fuel saver. By following too closely, you are forced to react suddenly to the driver in front, which inevitably involves hard braking.
A good rule of thumb is the two-second gap between cars. This could give you space to use engine braking instead of brakes.
Tip 7. Avoid High-Speed Cornering
Cornering at high speeds forces the tyres to grip harder, increasing rolling resistance and fuel use. Sharp turns also often lead to heavier braking and re-acceleration, which wastes even more fuel.
However, the best approach is to brake gently before the corner, coast smoothly through the turn at a constant speed, and then accelerate slowly.
Tip 8. Find the Sweet Spot: Don’t Cruise at 75 mph
Aerodynamics plays a major role on motorways at high speed. The faster you go, the harder your engine has to work against the air, and fuel efficiency drops exponentially.
If the legal speed limit is 70 mph, you should stick to 55 to 60 mph. It could save you money.
Vehicle Setup: Reduce Resistance, Save Fuel (Tips 9-13)
Once you’ve mastered your driving style, the next step is optimising your car’s physical resistance. These small maintenance checks and changes can add up to huge, consistent savings.
Tip 9. Tyres in good condition
This is one of the easiest and most important fixes. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, forcing your engine to work much harder.
It is important to check your tyre pressure at least once a month. The European Union reports that a tyre under-inflation of just 5 psi can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.
Tip 10. Remove roof boxes: Ditch the Drag
Roof boxes are not bulky, but they create an extra drag force, and the engine uses more fuel to run forward. On motorways, this drag can increase fuel consumption by up to 25%, depending on the size of the load and your speed.
Tip 11. Lighten the Load: Empty the Boot
Extra weight means your engine needs more energy to accelerate. Remove those non-essential items like old children’s seats, heavy tools, or boxes of junk. Every extra 50 kg of dead weight can increase your fuel consumption by up to 2%.
Tip 12. Use Low-Viscosity Engine Oil
Choosing the right engine oil not only maintains your engine but also saves you money. Saving 20 pounds on engine oil could cost you 200 pounds. Check your car’s manual for the correct grade of oil. Modern engines are designed to use low-viscosity oils like 0W-20 or 5W-30.
Tip 13. Windows Down or AC On? (The Speed Test)
Both open windows and air conditioning affect fuel economy, but one is clearly better depending on your speed:
Urban or slow driving (under 30 mph): Windows down has minimal impact. Fresh air is cheaper than running the AC.
Motorway speeds (50+ mph): Open windows create aerodynamic drag, reducing efficiency. Using air conditioning moderately is often the lesser evil.
Journey Planning & Modern Vehicles (Tips 14-15)
Smart planning before you even start the car, combined with using your car’s modern tech, ensures your engine is working efficiently from start to finish.
Tip 14. Combine Errands: Avoid Multiple Cold Starts
Cold engines are less efficient. When you start your car, fuel consumption is higher until the engine reaches its optimum operating temperature.
However, plan your errands so you can combine trips into a single journey, giving the engine time to warm up and operate efficiently.
Tip 15. Use SatNav to Avoid Congestion
Traffic jams mean idling and stop-start, and all of these destroy your fuel economy. Always use modern navigation apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze that provide real-time traffic data. This helps to plan to avoid congestion and plan alternative routes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Economical Driving Tips
What is the most effective economical driving tip to save fuel?
The most effective tip for fuel saving is driving smoothly and anticipating the roads. You should avoid aggressive acceleration and harsh braking. Also, using engine braking could make the difference. These habits could save your fuel by 15%.
Does driving slower save fuel?
Yes, driving slower could save you fuel, around 50 to 60 mph on motorways. Fuel consumption increases dramatically at high speeds due to aerodynamic drag.
Does having a heavy car really use more fuel?
Absolutely, a heavier car requires more fuel to maintain speed. A fully loaded boot or roof box can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 10–25%, depending on the car and driving conditions. This is why it is important to remove unnecessary items from the boot of your car.
Is it better to use air conditioning or open the windows to save fuel?
It really depends on how fast you’re going. If you’re cruising under 30 mph, rolling down the windows is a great way to save on fuel since it doesn’t really affect your comfort much. But once you hit over 50 mph, open windows can actually create drag, which might end up using more fuel than just turning on the AC. So, it’s all about finding that balance between speed and comfort
Does using an electric vehicle’s (EV) regenerative braking save energy?
Absolutely. Regenerative braking is a key feature of EV and hybrid fuel efficiency. Instead of wasting energy as heat through brake friction, the system uses the braking force to generate electricity and recharge the battery. Mastering smooth anticipation and using high-level regen can significantly extend your driving range.
Conclusion: Economical Driving Tips
These are some of the practical tips that you can use to save fuel efficiently. All the mentioned tips, from driving habits and maintenance to planning ahead, can save you money. Note these tips down and apply them to your daily driving. Economical driving is all about your driving habits.
For more expert driving tips, visit our blog section.