Saving fuel

Fuel use depends largely on the car's condition and how you drive. Driving gently also helps the car last longer.

• Keep tyres at the correct pressure – under-inflation wastes fuel and wears tyres.
• Don't carry unnecessary weight.
• Don't warm up the engine by idling for long. Drive off once it runs smoothly (warm-up takes longer in cold weather).
• Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
• Avoid long periods of idling – if you're waiting a long time, switch off.
• Choose the right gear for the road, and avoid over-revving.
• Avoid repeated speeding up and slowing down – stop-start driving wastes fuel.
• Keep a steady speed and a safe gap to avoid unnecessary braking. This also reduces brake wear.
• Avoid heavy traffic and jams where possible.
• Don't rest your foot on the brake pedal – it causes wear, overheating and higher fuel use.
• Keep to a sensible speed on the motorway – the faster you go, the more fuel you use.
• Keep the wheel alignment correct: avoid hitting kerbs and slow down on rough roads.
• Keep mud off the underside of the car.
• Keep the car well maintained. Dirty filters, spark plugs or oil and badly adjusted brakes all waste fuel. Service more often if you regularly drive in severe conditions.