10 Tips to Cut Driving Costs

Those irritating individuals who claim that they’re ‘born to be driven’ will never feel the full force of annual driving costs. As it happens, they’d rather beg, borrow or linger around for lifts and allow us to feel the pinch in our own pockets for the likes of petrol and parking. Couple that with Christmas and you’ve got a recipe for a very expensive festive period. 

This time of year, tends to be the time of year where our finances are stretched the most. It’s also the time of year where we tend to ferry our friends around the most too as part of the extended good will gesture. Therefore, we thought we’d put together 10 ways we can help combat the increasing costs of running a car.

1. Driveways Paved with Gold

This is a perfect way of generating some extra dividends whilst you’re off visiting distant relatives this Christmas (if you have a driveway, that is). And said driveway is preferably near a city centre, train station or airport for it to be profitable.

The idea is to rent out your driveway and make it an alternative, but attractive, parking space for holiday makers, commuters and visitors alike, whilst you’re away. 

This little money maker could earn you around £200 per month; sites such as Just Park & You Parking Space are great place to start.

2. Cashback

For us car owners, the single most regular, and irritating, expenditure is fuel. With its fluctuating prices and rapid consumption rates, grabbing some financial relief is rare. But it can be done.

There are some cash back credit cards out there that love to reward you for your spending behaviours. So, if you’re filling up on a regular basis, get some financial gains!

3. Driving Style

It’s a well-known fact that once we’ve finally passed our driving test we automatically adjust to our own preferred driving style. 

That being said, it’s never too late to change back to styles of old, and potentially save up to 30% on fuel costs whilst doing so.

Accelerate gradually, driving in the correct gear and slowing down naturally are just some subtle changes that can save on fuel consumption. There are some more tips on driving efficiency here.

4. Weight Reductions

We’re very familiar with the term ‘less is more’ but, in this case, less really is more. 

Declutter your car. Instead of using it as a storage facility, take out anything that doesn’t need to be in there. It’s not rocket science; the lighter your car is, the less effort it needs to accelerate. 

The same applies for roof racks; they cause drag and make the engine work harder. So, if you’re not using it, take it off. 

Again, filling your tank up to the brim is only adding weight so try putting less in and refuelling more often.

5. Petrol Station Nation

Nowadays, you don’t have to travel far to find a petrol station. Yet, some of us are willing to travel a little further than the nearest, to save a few pence per litre.

A quick-fire way of finding the nearest and cheapest petrol station to you is to use www.petrolprices.com. All you have to do is enter your post code and the cheapest petrol prices will be positioned in a list for you.

6. Supermarket Sweep

Petrol and supermarkets go hand in hand. The major supermarkets are always competing with one another to secure your custom. That’s why they’re always offering fuel vouchers with grocery purchases. Some have even seen a saving of up to 12 pence per litre!

To finds out which supermarkets are promoting what offer, you can do a sweep on www.petrolprices.com, to find the best deals. It’s often worthwhile subscribing to the weekly email, so you don’t miss out.

7. Pothole Claims

Those pesky potholes, where do they appear from? Well, it’s usually around this time of year that they start sprouting out of the ground, due to adverse weather conditions. And, as we know, it can take an eternity for your local council to repair the roads, meaning you have to avoid them at your own, and other driver’s, peril. 

However, if your car does happen to concur damages due to potholes, you can claim back the cost of your repairs. It’s a lengthy process, as you can imagine, but it does pay off. 

Here’s The Money Savings Expert’s more detailed guide to potholes claims.

8. Car Share Clubs

This service doesn’t need an expert explanation about how you can save money by collaborating and commuting together. It has got its pros and cons but it’s guaranteed to save you money as you’ll be driving less.

There are a few platforms that seem to be popular within the car share community and they are www.liftshare.com/uk & www.blablacar.co.uk

Try it, you might like it.

9. Public Transport

Granted, this could be one of the reasons you decided to pass your test and buy your own car, but it is an economically efficient way of getting about.

If searched for and purchase early enough, train tickets can be bought on the cheap and are now actually quite a pleasant way to travel. With railcard discounts and other offers readily available, it’s always worth checking if you have a journey in the diary.

For long distance bus journeys use www.megabus.com where tickets can be bought for as little as £1.

Alternatively, wheels without engines (skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles etc.) are ideal for saving cash on shorter journeys.

10. Stop Driving

You may not want to hear it but it could be worth considering, especially if you have more than one in your household. Selling your car and discovering alternative modes of transportation can save you thousands of pounds a year – that’s a fact. You would also be taking a step towards an eco-friendlier environment.

Hopefully, some of the tips we’ve suggested can guide you towards saving a few pounds this Christmas, as well as reducing your overall carbon footprint. 

Why not share this blog with your friends and family and see who can make the most dramatic savings? 

If you have any other tips to cut driving costs, we’d love to hear those too!