Driving economically

Driving economically

Driving a car seems to be becoming one of the most expensive things to do these days, but there are a number of ways you can limit the amount you spend in doing so. Initially, when purchasing your car, you can look into things like fuel consumption, value for money, maintenance costs and which insurance bracket the vehicle lands in (depending on what country you intend to drive it in), however even after this there are methods to cut the cost of your daily commute. Depending on your vehicle and dedication, the following techniques could save you an average of 10% of your driving costs, and potentially up to 30% according to the AA.

You should always have your car checked regularly to ensure that your engine is performing to the top standards. By checking you are using the correct grade of oil and that your tyre pressure is sufficient, you will also get more miles to the gallon of fuel.

There's also preparation you can do your vehicle before you even turn it on. By cleaning out your car regularly and ensuring there is no extra weight that you will be pointlessly transporting, you will be saving on fuel. You can better streamline your car by removing roof racks and accessories to reduce the air resistance and drag created by your vehicle. You can de-ice your car in the winter with a scraper instead of heating up the car, although this is sometimes inefficient, and visibility and safety should always come first. Also, careful planning of your trip will ensure that you don't get lost and waste fuel trying to get to your destination.

Something else worth considering is the distance. If it's only a short trip into town, is it even worth using the car? Most vehicles use the most fuel when stopping and starting around cities and by taking a walk or using your bike instead you will not only be doing your wallet a favour, but also the environment.

When it comes to actually driving your car, there are a few techniques that reduce consumption. Ensure your ride is overall smooth and gentle - accelerate and brake gradually where possible. Carefully reading the road and staying alert is key to braking slowly and safely, and also a general good driving practice. Deceleration while in gear is much better than braking sharply.

If you can avoid stopping and starting by keeping your car moving at slow distance, this will cut your consumption dramatically. By slowing early for traffic lights or traffic build up you may eliminate the need to stop altogether.

Air conditioning and other electrics use a lot of fuel. When travelling slowly it is much more efficient to open the window, and even more efficient to remove those extra layers that your'e wearing. You can turn off the heating systems, radios and fans when you don't need them to make your fuel last longer.

By driving to the speed limit you will also reduce your consumption. The difference in fuel consumption between 60mp/h and 70 mp/h is on 9% on average, and up to a further 25% between 70 mp/h and 80 mp/h.

Whatever you do, ensure that you put your safety and safety of everybody around you before your economic savings, however by following some simple and easy changes to your driving routines, you can save yourself substantial amounts of cash.