With fuel costs fluctuating, it’s difficult to set a firm budget and plan ahead. There are a number of obvious ways to cut down on your consumption, including carpooling or using public transportation. Yet getting behind the wheel is unavoidable for many, and no matter how many hours you log on the motorways each day you can still save at the pump by following some lesser-known tips.

Make your Car more Efficient

You probably already compared fuel economy statistics carefully when you were shopping around for a car, maybe even buying a hybrid or other fuel-efficient car. Even old-fashioned gas guzzlers can be made more efficient with a little bit of tweaking. One easy way to boost your fuel efficiency by up to 3% is to inflate your tyres fully. Low tyre pressure can increase a car’s drag, burning more fuel. Lighten up your load by taking excess weight out of the boot and doing away with your roof rack when you’re not using it. This can boost efficiency by an additional 2% for each action. As you drive around, think about turning off your air conditioning, particularly if you are driving at lower speeds. However, if you are driving on the motorway at high speeds keeping your window open will actually burn more fuel than using the air con system.

Become a More Efficient Driver

After giving your car a bit of an efficiency boost, you can start practicing techniques to burn less fuel when you’re behind the wheel. By adjusting your techniques slightly, you cut nearly a third of your fuel costs! One way to do this is to always drive in the correct gear, which will put less stress on the engine. Another way to save energy is to avoid sudden starts and stops, accelerating as gradually as possible. By allowing more time to speed up, you will still reach the same speed but use far less power. Similarly, it’s better to let the car naturally run out of steam instead of slamming on the brakes to slow down or stop. A simple rule to remember is that when you apply pressure to the accelerator, the harder you push the more fuel you are spending.

Use the Power of Technology

The internet provides drivers with more tools than ever to compare new and used cars, car insurance rates, and even gas stations. Just as you would compare cars or insurance rates at GoCompare.com, you can now use websites like PetrolPrices.com as a way to compare fuel prices in your area. There are also numerous apps that can help you keep tabs on fuel prices and save money. FuelFinder and iGasUp are both apps that can be easily downloaded and used on the go to show you where the nearest gas station is with the lowest prices. Apps like Route4Me also can save you both time and money by showing you the most efficient route to your destination.

These are just a few ways to start saving money on fuel, whether you drive a Nissan Leaf or a Range Rover. Lightening your load, easing up on the accelerator, and using money-saving apps can save you a bundle over time.