Money Saving Tips for Drivers

Driving is an expensive part of life, with everything from repairs to insurance costing us money. Despite feeling like these costs are necessary, there are actually ways in which we can cut back the costs and save a bit of money. With motoring costs increasing, here are some quick tips to save money as a driver.

Find your cheapest fuel station

Fuel is the most expensive aspect of driving, but there are ways to keep the costs down. Don’t leave your tank to get to near empty before frantically driving to your nearest fuel station, as this could end up being a costly mistake (as well as causing potential damage to your vehicle!). Shop around and find the cheapest garage near you; it’s likely to be your local supermarket.

There’s a common misconception that supermarket fuel is less efficient or bad for your engine, but in reality supermarket fuel conforms to the same standards as branded fuels. Keep an eye on RAC Fuel Watch for the latest fuel prices in the UK.

On that note, don’t waste your money on premium fuel for a standard car. Unless you’re driving a performance vehicle, you’re not likely to notice any difference by using premium fuel – except the price tag!

Haggle on car insurance

A big mistake many of us make is settling for our auto-renewal insurance price. With the current inflation of prices in the UK, it’s worth spending 10 minutes gathering quotes from other providers to find out the average price. Compare the Market or Money Supermarket are good platforms for this. You can then call your insurance company with your new-found quotes and haggle on your renewal quote. They’d generally rather keep you as a customer with a lower premium than lose you altogether!

Prepare your car for its MOT

Carry out some pre-MOT checks on your car to reduce its chance of failing. Of course you won’t be able to fix everything yourself, but making sure things like tyres and liquid levels are legal and safe are an easy and cheap way to prevent an MOT failure and further costs. Read our guide on preparing your car for an MOT.

Drive economically

Save money on fuel and potential replacements and repairs by driving economically. You’re always going to need to fill up with fuel and replace certain parts of your vehicle at some point, but reducing the frequency of needing to do this will save you money in the long run. Ensuring your tyres’ air pressure is correct and driving in the right gear are two quick and easy ways to save on fuel.

Utilise free charging points for your EV

If you are an electric vehicle owner, you can find local charging points that are free to use, such as supermarkets or your place of work. On the subject of electric vehicles, they often come with cheaper tax and insurance, so if you haven’t already made the switch, it might be time.