Driving a car is part of the Australian lifestyle, but it can get very expensive. Whether you drive a hatchback with a focus on fuel economy, a typical family sedan, or a powerful 4WD, cars are very costly to purchase, maintain, and run.
Australia is defined by large sprawling cities and wide open spaces, and most people spend a significant percentage of their weekly budget on fuel. With the cost of petrol and diesel rising all the time, it's important to make smart decisions and save money where you can.
How to save on fuel in 7 simple steps
Everyone wants to make the most of their weekly budget, and driving is the perfect place to start. While petrol costs are rising all the time, there are lots of ways to keep more money in your pocket. Whether you own a private vehicle, have access to a company car, or work as a government employee with a leased vehicle, even the simplest of tips can help you save big.
With the following seven tips, you can save money on fuel and stretch your budget further:
Fill up at the right times
Fuel costs rise and fall all the time in Australia, and there are ways to take advantage. The price of fuel may be rising on a long-term basis, but it oscillates wildly on a micro-scale.
Pay attention to the fuel price cycle report published by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which examines how price cycles change over time. While you can't always avoid buying petrol, you can limit large purchases to the right times.
Along with price fluctuations, you can also take advantage of climate conditions. While it may be marginal, you can save a little money by purchasing more fuel at night or dawn. Petrol expands when heated, so you get more fuel for the same money when you fill up in the cold. When you're thinking about how to save on fuel in Australia, you can take advantage of weather conditions.
Compare prices
Along with timing, location plays a huge role in setting fuel prices. On the same day, prices can vary wildly between Australian cities and towns. While this might be expected, they can also vary significantly between suburbs in the same city.
There are useful websites that compare prices across cities, with good deals also mentioned on talkback radio stations. If you're driving around town for work or doing chores in neighbouring suburbs, you should always keep your eye out for low prices.
Use discount vouchers
Many of the largest service stations in Australia are linked to local supermarkets. Affiliate deals are common between retailers, and vouchers are available to help you save. The relationship between certain supermarkets and service stations is designed to promote customer loyalty, and you can save lots of money over time by sticking to certain companies.
For example, the Woolworths Everyday Reward program helps you save money at participating Ampol and EG Ampol service stations, and Coles Fuel Discount Vouchers help you save money at participating Shell service stations by getting you cheaper fuel more often.
Drive efficiently
How you drive your car has a huge effect on your car’s fuel consumption and your car’s fuel efficiency, and a few small changes can have a surprisingly positive effect.
First and foremost, it's important to drive smoothly between stopping points. Accelerate gently, maintain a steady speed, and try to avoid heavy braking as it converts valuable kinetic energy into useless heat. If you're braking all the time, it basically means you're driving too fast.
You can help the situation by anticipating traffic flows, coasting down hills, and changing lanes to keep a constant speed. It's important to avoid excessive idling when you can, by reducing warm-up times and turning your car off when loading or waiting for passengers.
However, avoiding high speeds is also important, as you can increase fuel consumption fast when you push your car to its limits.
Plan your driving routes
Commuting times vary widely in Australia, and all too often, people make the wrong choices. In order to drive efficiently, you need to plan your driving routes.
There are two things to consider when you plan a route: how quickly you arrive at your destination and how much fuel you use along the way. These two things are often contrary, with longer, more relaxed routes often requiring less fuel.
While each vehicle is different in this regard, sometimes it makes sense to avoid congested areas with lots of traffic lights. You will benefit from less wear on the engine, which helps to lower fuel costs. Whatever route you decide to take, it's crucial to plan ahead to avoid getting stressed, making mistakes, and needing to double back.
Keep your vehicle maintained
One of the easiest ways to save money on fuel is to keep your vehicle well-maintained. Cars are much more efficient when you keep your engine in tip-top condition.
Have your car serviced on a regular basis, make sure it's always topped up with quality oil, and keep your brake pads fresh for maximum efficiency. Even small things can impact fuel costs, so make sure your tyres and tyre pressure are even, your suspension functions properly, and keep your wheels balanced.
Switch off the air conditioner
If you're wondering how to save money on fuel, you should think about turning off your air conditioner. This simple trick is an effective way to reduce fuel consumption, sometimes by as much as 8-10%.
In fact, every accessory in your car has an impact on fuel usage, even little things like demisters and the radio. They drain power from your battery, which is charged by the fuel in your engine and paid for every time you're at the pump.
It's important to realise, however, that open windows can also increase fuel costs, especially when you're driving at high speeds. It's essential to get the balance right, with open windows recommended for slow driving and air conditioning advised for highway driving or particularly hot days.
Save on fuel with a novated lease from easi
If you're looking for a new car, a novated lease from Easi is the ideal solution. This arrangement allows you to finance a new or used car from your pre-tax salary, and it's a great way to save money on fuel.
Easi is the trusted national leader in this space, with our team delivering custom finance solutions for customers across Australia. Please review our website or contact our team to learn more.
