Big petrol bill? 5 simple steps to slash it
As petrol prices continue to rise, learning how to be more fuel efficient can make a real difference to your wallet. This doesn’t have to mean switching to an electric car – these simple tweaks can have an outsized impact. It might even free up a bit more cash for some extra road trip snacks or that much needed coffee on your morning commute.
Gentle does it
How you drive can make a real difference to how fast that petrol needle drops. Reducing your speed by even small amounts can cut the cost of your petrol bill. Also, think about how you accelerate from a complete stop, especially at those pesky red lights. You don’t gain much of an advantage from accelerating hard and it does burn through the petrol. Keeping a steadier speed without excessive braking or speeding up will make you more efficient.
Lose the extra pounds
No, we’re not talking about the added weight after a big Christmas dinner. What have you got in your car that you don’t really need? Sometimes we keep excess items in the back for surprise trips to the beach, but hauling around that additional weight does require using more petrol on a daily basis.
A breath of fresh air
Air-con or windows down can cause major arguments on a long road trip. From an efficiency point of view, always using your air-con isn’t a great idea so when you’re off on short trips around town. Pop the windows down instead. However, when you’re on the open road travelling faster, having your windows down can actually decrease how aerodynamic your car is. So, mix it up depending on the trip.
Hunt down the savings
Fuel prices across town (or down the road) can vary greatly, with many retailers offering discounts off the advertised price depending on which loyalty cards you have. Apps like Gaspy crowdsource real-time prices from across the country so you can know whether it’s worth driving that wee bit further to the next station.
Stretch your legs
Popping to the dairy? Heading to a nearby friend’s house? Sick of the morning commute? Your car uses more petrol when it’s cold, so all of those short trips are using your fuel faster than the long drives. Or switch up the bumper-to-bumper commute with public transport or your bike. You’ll use less petrol and be doing your bit for the environment.
Are all these savings making a car loan seem more affordable? Chat to your local car dealer about your vehicle lending options or click here for more information about a vehicle loan from Marac.
Marac is a division of Heartland Bank. Responsible lending criteria, terms, fees and conditions apply.
