Want to cut your fuel costs? Here are our top tips to cut your fuel bill, including how to find the cheapest petrol and diesel prices near you.
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Cheap fuel: use supermarket promotions
Supermarkets regularly launch short-term promotions to help you bag notably cheaper petrol and diesel.
They’ll offer anywhere up to 10p off per litre of fuel, which is a huge saving.
However, there’s usually a requirement for you to spend between £30 to £60 in said supermarket in order to qualify, so it’s really only worth doing if you do your regular shop there.
These short-term promotions are a good way to save, you should take steps to ensure you get the best possible price every time you fill up.
Read on to learn our top tips for finding the cheapest petrol and diesel.
Find the cheapest petrol or diesel station near you
The price you pay for petrol or diesel will vary depending on where you live – and there are even greater variations depending on which specific fuel station you choose to fill up at.
Research suggests finding the best value station when filling up could save you £226 on petrol and £158 on diesel on average every year.
So, be sure to do your homework to find the cheapest station near you.
You can do this easily enough by entering your postcode on PetrolPrices.com and comparing prices nearby, or you can download the app to your phone.
Alternatively, RAC also has an app that lets you track cheap fuel prices near you with its 'fuel finder' feature.
Read more: cheapest and most expensive countries to buy fuel in
Petrol station loyalty cards
Various stations offer fuel loyalty cards, which can help you save on the cost of filling up.
For example, Texaco operates the Star Rewards scheme. You get one point for every litre of petrol or diesel that you buy.
Points are worth 1p and once you hit 500 points, you can turn that into a £5 voucher to use the next time you fill the car.
You'll get 75 bonus points for signing up, getting you well on the way to the 500-point mark.
Alternatively, you can convert those points into vouchers for retailers including Argos and Marks & Spencer.
Shell has replaced Shell Drivers Club with ShellGo+, which rewards you with money off your fuel for every 10 visits (when you spend £10 or more on fuel or at least £2 in the shop).
BP recently launched its own loyalty scheme BPMe, where you swipe your rewards card at the till when paying for fuel or any products.
Points are effectively worth half a penny each.
You get one point for one litre of regular fuel, and one point for every £1 spent in store or on a car wash. You can get two points per litre of Ultimate fuel purchased.
When you hit 200 points, you can get £1 off your fuel or you can choose from other rewards.
If you register your card now, BP is offering a welcome bonus of £5. You can read our detailed review of the best fuel loyalty schemes here.
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Pay with the right credit card
Using the right credit card to pay for your fuel is also an easy way to save cash.
For example, Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card lets you earn up to 5% cashback (falling to up to 1% after three months) and can be used at Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, BP, Total and more stores.
As always with cashback cards, only use them if you can pay off your debt in full each month, or the interest you rack up will far outweigh the benefits.
You can compare more options here in our roundup of the top cashback credit cards.
Improve your car's fuel efficiency!
The final way to ensure that you pay as little for your petrol and diesel every time you fill up is to make your fuel go further.
Here are some simple things that the motoring experts at WhatCar? recommend doing to improve your fuel efficiency.
Remove excess weight
Take those bulky items out if you don’t need them – if the baby is staying at home, so can their buggy!
Reduce drag
Things like bike racks and roof boxes add extra wind resistance, so your car has to work harder. If you aren’t using them, take them off.
Look after your car
Get your car serviced regularly and pump up your tyres. Look after your car, and it will look after your bank balance.
Plan your journey
Work out your route before you head off. That way you won’t end up driving further than necessary or get stuck in traffic.
Do you really need the aircon on?
Unless you really need it, leave the air conditioning off. The same goes for all other electrical appliances in the car.
Be gentle
Be gentle with your gear changes and braking.
Engine stop/start
Some modern cars are fitted with engine stop-start technology. Making the most of that, by taking your foot off the clutch when you are stationary, will help you save fuel.
Don’t speed
WhatCar? research suggests that driving at 80mph uses up to 25% more fuel than going at 70mph.