Fantastic fuel-saving tips

With fuel prices nudging £1.20 a litre and little sign of them falling, many motorists are wondering what they can do to ease the financial pain of running a car.

The high price of fuel makes every activity we engage in more expensive. Going to see a show or football match can add a fiver to the price of the tickets.

A trip to a village pub 15 miles from your home may be a nice way to spend an evening but if you have only one drink then it could work out at around £8 a pint.

Although the price of oil is rising, it's the massive two-thirds cut that goes to the Treasury that's the real problem.

Every time you put a gallon of fuel in your car you're putting nearly £3.50 into Alistair Darling's coffers.

And, unlike cities like London or nearly every major German conurbation, the West Midlands does not have an underground to ease the pressure on the roads. So most people drive - because they have to.

There are ways, however, of cutting fuel bills by up to a third - potentially saving motorists hundreds of pounds a year.

Follow these fuel-saving tips and you could be laughing all the way to the tank...

1. Choose a more economical car

An obvious point, perhaps, but if you must have the sporty model in a range be prepared to lose out financially.

Also see our photo gallery of fuel-saving eco cars...

When the time comes to change your car consider instead one of the more eco-friendly models offered by manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Ford or Citroen.

VW's Bluemotion Polo is an exceptionally green car, with high fuel economy and lower C02 emissions than even Toyota's hybrid Prius.

At £12,000, it's not cheap, but VW has already been taken aback by the level of demand in the UK. You'll save on tax too.

2. Drive more efficiently

While you shouldn't thrape your car and stomp on the brakes, there's no need to dawdle either.

Smoothness is the key to achieving good fuel economy. Reach your cruising speed steadily and employ engine braking to help slow you down.

Make sure you are in the "correct" gear too. It's worth trying to stay under 3,000rpm: diesels need even less revving.

Many modern cars have displays which tell you the most economical time to change gear. Driving more efficiently can slash your fuel bills.

3. Don't pay top whack for fuel

Websites like www.petrolprices.com will give you the cheapest prices for fuel in your area if you tap in your postcode.

The savings will be small - up to five per cent - but can amount to a tidy sum over the course of a year.

Don't drive several miles to save a penny per litre as this could end up costing you rather than saving cash. Credit cars and loyalty schemes can save you money too.

Picture courtesy Peter Byrne/PA Photos

4. Don't overfill with petrol or diesel

Fuel is heavy, so only fill to half or three quarters of the tank. This can cut one per cent off your annual bill.

5. Switch off the air conditioning

Air conditioning is almost an essential option for many motorists these days but it does not need to be used all the time, especially with our climate.

It also adds to your fuel bill. Switch it off unless it's sweltering outside and you'll save up to eight per cent on your fuel bill for standard air con and four per cent for climate control.

6. Declutter your car

Strip out the paraphernalia which many people carry in their cars, but rarely need.

Dump the junk in the trunk and you could add two per cent to your car's efficiency. Removing the roof rack will add another two per cent.

7. Check your tyres

Drive with your tyres inflated fully and correctly - you will improve efficiency by up to three per cent. Your car will also be safer too.

8. Keep everything well-maintained

Keeping your car serviced regularly is critical to ensuring that it everything runs as economically as possible. You'll break down less often too.

9. Only drive if you have to

Do you really need the car for that trip to the takeaway or local shop for a pint of milk?

If you can walk or ride your bike, go for it. You'll get fitter as well as saving money. Don't make lots of small trips as cars use more fuel when their engines are cold.

Try and plan ahead and combine errands with a single longer trip, which could use up to half the fuel.

10. Keep your car clean

If you keep your motor clean and waxed you will improve its aerodynamics and therefore boost fuel economy. A US test revealed savings of up to seven per cent can be achieved.

Case Study: Gary Walker checked out the savings that could be made when driving more efficiently

Bilston-based Gary Walker drives for a living so knows how crucial it is to have a relaxed approach behind the wheel.

He took out a Toyota Auris to see what savings could be made when cars are driven in a more efficient manner.

He tackled a 15-mile route firstly in an aggressive style and then with a more careful, considered approach. The results should make interesting reading for people who believe that their driving style has little effect on fuel consumption levels.

Gary's two-litre diesel Auris TR returned 46mpg when he was pressing on and 52.7mpg when he drove more carefully.

That's a saving of nearly 15 per cent, meaning that a motorist who covers 10,000 miles a year could save nearly £150 over the course of 12 months.

Gary, aged 22, of Lanesfield, says: "The way you drive the car really can make quite a difference to your fuel costs.

"The important thing is to keep the revs down and change up into a high gear as soon as possible."

By motoring editor Peter Carroll