Times are tough at the moment, economically speaking at least. Budgets are being stretched left, right and centre, whether in the form of higher energy bills or inflated grocery shops – and this is to say nothing of the impacts of inflation on the running costs related to private transport.

Something has to give, and if budgets are stretched any tighter then even essentials like a daily driver might be hard to justify. How might the average motorist save money with regard to driving in particular?

Shop Around for Fuel

Fuel costs represent the biggest wedge of car-related costs for a majority of drivers, and have only increased in recent years. While petrol and diesel prices are much timer now than they were at the height of the cost-of-living crisis in 2022, they still remain relatively high – and diesel much more so than petrol.

While you might not be able to directly address the amount of fuel you buy each month (though there may be some exceptions, as we will investigate shortly), there are still ways you can address the cost of fuel in your monthly motoring budget.

For example, fuel is not priced uniformly across petrol stations, and there are always some garages with cheaper fuel than others. As such, a little shopping-around on a semi-regular basis allows you to stay abreast of the best-priced fuel in your area, potentially cutting as much as 20p per litre from your fuel costs.

Another tip is to avoid premium fuels, such as premium unleaded. Despite suggestions that premium fuels are ‘better’ for your engine performance, you will likely see very little difference between it and a cheaper alternative. The fuel is recommended for more expensive sports cars, but for your daily driver regular fuel will be just as useful.

Trade for a Used Vehicle

One of the most impactful short-term ways you can impact your motoring budget is also one of the more fundamental options available to you: trading your car in. In looking out for fuel-efficient used cars on the market, you might find something reliable and at a significant discount in comparison to the value of your current vehicle – marking less of a downgrade and more of a shrewd economic decision.

Adopt Efficient Driving Habits

Lastly, there are ways in which you can approach your own driving habits that can have real long-term impacts for your finances. Simply put, there are driving habits that can decrease your fuel economy or vehicle lifespan, as well as more overtly dangerous driving habits that increase the likelihood of your crashing.

Overzealously revving your engine can increase the rate at which certain parts wear. Taking off from traffic lights at a sensible pace, and accelerating evenly out of corners, are both good starts to addressing this. Changing gears at lower rpms can also keep your engine from working unnecessarily hard, and increase fuel economy in the process.