Check your tyre pressures

This simple check can save you big. Knowing how to check tyre pressure  is very important for all drivers.

OK, it might cost you 50p or £1 to do it at a filling station, but the savings soon add up.

You could also buy an electric pump and check and inflate yourself, rather than go to a garage.

Tyres under inflated by 15psi – a difference you may not notice from a visual glance – can use 6% more fuel.

That’s the difference between averaging 40mpg and 42mpg.

Or, to put it another way, an additional 26 miles from a 60-litre tank of fuel.

Based on the current average price for a litre of diesel, you’ll spend £1,365.08 a year at 40mpg or £1,300.10 at 42mpg – a difference of £65.

Source car parts yourself

Been quoted big money by a dealer to replace parts?

Consider buying them yourself online and using a local (but well-rated) garage to fit them.

This could potentially save you several hundreds of pounds.

Drive gently when the car is cold

Cars are at their least efficient when they are cold,  winter driving comes with its own challenges.

If you drive quickly straight from start-up, you are using more  fuel, and also wearing out the engine more quickly in the process.

Show some mechanical sympathy and you’ll immediately start saving money.

On a related matter, you shouldn’t allow your engine to idle for too long.

Today’s engines are designed to operate from the moment you turn the key – warming the engine is no longer required.

If you like the cabin to feel warm on a cold day, it might be worth investing in a car with heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

Remember to turn them off when you’ve warmed up, as they will increase your fuel consumption when switched on.

Don’t pay extra for premium fuel

You’ve probably noticed the so-called ‘premium’ fuels when filling up with petrol or diesel.

The retailers claim that these fuels offer performance and economy advantages, whilst cleaning and protecting your engine.

In reality, unless you’re driving a performance vehicle, you’re unlikely to see any improvements by using fuel with a higher octane (petrol) or cetane (diesel) rating. You will, however, pay up to 10p a litre more for the privilege.

Research conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) found that drivers in the United States were wasting more than $2.1 billion by using premium-grade petrol and diesel in vehicles designed to run on standard fuels.

If you’re still keen, our advice would be to experiment with two or three tanks of premium fuel. If you see a significant increase in the number of miles you can squeeze out of a tank, then it could be worthwhile in the long run.