Ever-increasing fuel and insurance prices are driving people off the road. Drivers who want to continue using the car as they have done now have to find methods to help reduce running costs, so – without further ado – here are some tips on how to drive more economically and save money.
Don’t carry excess weight
By carrying excess weight in your car, you could be unnecessarily spending more money on fuel than you need to.
For every 45kg you carry, you could be reducing fuel efficiency by 4%.
If you often cart around sports equipment such as golf clubs, leaving that at home could help save those pennies.
Having excess weight can also affect your cars performance because of weight distribution – altering handling and reducing traction of front wheel drive cars.
Remove your roof rack
Roof racks are a good idea if you’re stuck for storage space. Despite this, they do a lot to reduce your car’s overall efficiency as racks spoil your vehicles aerodynamics, ramping up drag and, therefore, fuel consumption.
If you’re not making use of your roof rack, remove it. This will provide you with considerable savings over the year.
Shop around for insurance
Car insurance is becoming increasingly expensive, largely due to the ever increasing volume of car accidents resulting in insurance claims.
Finding the best deal can really reduce your monthly outgoings, so if you’re struggling to afford to stay on the road, it could make all the difference.
Drive slower
Driving at lower speeds increases your fuel economy and so can help you save money. Each car will have its own optimal speed for fuel economy though as a general rule of thumb, your engine will become less efficient every 5mph over 50mph.
As well as driving slower, you should drive less aggressively as this will put your engine under less stress. Unnecessary acceleration and rapid breaking all contribute towards fuel consumption.
Check your tires are properly inflated
Deflated tyres will significantly reduce the fuel economy of your car because they dramatically increase drag and reduce handling – braking in particular.
Driving on deflated tyres will also speed up the wear and tear of your wheels, so making sure they are properly inflated could save you more regular tyre replacements, as well as fuel.
It’s thought that 40% of drivers drive on at least one underinflated tyre.
This can reduce gas mileage by a minimum of 1.5% and in some cases can end up wasting a full mile per gallon.
Keeping your tires properly inflated is therefore an imperative for drivers.