How to Save Fuel: 8 Simple Ways to Make Your Car More Efficient

Top Tips

15 October 2026

Want to spend less on fuel without changing your car? The way you drive, plan your journeys and maintain your vehicle can all make a difference to how far each tank takes you.

From smoother acceleration to checking your tyre pressures, we've rounded up eight simple ways to improve fuel efficiency and help keep your running costs down.

01 | Drive smarter
Smoother inputs. Sensible speeds. The right gear. 02 | Plan ahead
Combine errands. Cut unnecessary idling. 03 | Look after your car
Check tyres. Keep up with maintenance.

ON THE ROAD

Drive More Efficiently

Your driving habits can have a significant impact on fuel consumption. Here's how a few small changes behind the wheel can help.

TIP 01

Accelerate and Brake Smoothly

Harsh acceleration and sudden braking use more fuel than necessary, particularly in stop-start traffic.

Look further ahead and anticipate changing road conditions. If traffic is slowing or you're approaching a red light, ease off the accelerator early rather than braking sharply at the last moment.

When pulling away from junctions or roundabouts, accelerate gradually rather than putting your foot straight down.

Try this: Leave a safe distance from the vehicle ahead to give yourself more time to react and maintain a smoother driving pace.

TIP 02

Watch Your Speed

The faster you drive, the more energy your car needs to overcome air resistance, particularly at motorway speeds.

Maintaining a steady, appropriate speed can help improve fuel efficiency. Avoid unnecessary acceleration and, where conditions allow, use cruise control on relatively flat roads to maintain a consistent pace.

On hilly routes, however, adjusting your speed manually may be more economical than relying on cruise control.

Try this: Compare your average MPG on similar journeys to see how different safe, legal driving speeds affect fuel consumption.

TIP 03

Use the Right Gear for the Road

Driving in a lower gear than necessary keeps your engine revs higher, which can increase fuel consumption.

If you drive a manual, change up through the gears when appropriate, without allowing the engine to struggle in a gear that's too high.

For automatic vehicles, smooth acceleration helps the gearbox select gears efficiently. Using Eco mode, where available, may also help.

Try this: Avoid unnecessary high revs and choose a gear that allows your engine to run smoothly.

BEFORE YOU SET OFF

Make Every Journey Count

A little planning before you set off can help reduce unnecessary mileage and make your journeys more economical.

TIP 04

Plan Ahead and Combine Journeys

Several short trips can use more fuel than completing the same errands in one journey, particularly when your engine has to warm up from cold each time.

Where possible, combine nearby errands into one trip and check traffic conditions before setting off.

The shortest route isn't always the most fuel-efficient, either. A slightly longer journey with fewer stops and less congestion may sometimes use less fuel.

Try this: Plan your errands together and check for delays before travelling through busy areas, particularly around Belfast during peak times.

TIP 05

Avoid Unnecessary Idling

Leaving your engine running while stationary burns fuel without getting you anywhere.

If you're safely parked and waiting to collect someone, consider switching off your engine rather than leaving it idling.

Automatic stop-start systems can also help reduce fuel consumption during suitable stops, so there's generally no need to disable the feature.

Modern cars don't usually require several minutes of idling before setting off on cold mornings. Follow your manufacturer's guidance and drive gently while the engine warms up.

LOOK AFTER THE BASICS

Keep Your Car Running Efficiently

Good driving habits matter, but so does the condition of your vehicle. Regular checks and maintenance can help identify problems that affect efficiency.

TIP 06

Check Your Tyre Pressures Regularly

Underinflated tyres create more rolling resistance, meaning your engine needs more energy to keep your car moving. They can also affect handling and cause uneven tyre wear.

Check your tyre pressures at least once a month and before longer journeys, ideally when the tyres are cold.

You'll usually find the recommended pressures inside the driver's door opening, behind the fuel filler flap or in your vehicle handbook.

WORTH KNOWING

Recommended tyre pressures may differ depending on how heavily your car is loaded. Always use the manufacturer's figures rather than the maximum pressure printed on the tyre sidewall.

TIP 07

Stay on Top of Servicing and Maintenance

A well-maintained car is better placed to operate efficiently, while problems such as dragging brakes, incorrect wheel alignment or certain engine faults can increase fuel consumption.

Following your manufacturer's recommended servicing schedule helps keep essential components in good working order and gives technicians an opportunity to identify developing issues.

If your car starts using noticeably more fuel despite no change in your usual journeys or driving habits, it's worth having it checked.

TIP 08

Remove Unnecessary Weight and Roof Accessories

Carrying extra weight means your engine generally needs more energy when accelerating or climbing hills.

Remove heavy items you don't regularly need, but keep essential safety equipment in place.

Roof racks and roof boxes can also increase aerodynamic drag, particularly at higher speeds. If you've fitted one for a holiday or weekend away, removing it afterwards can help reduce unnecessary fuel consumption.

SERVICING AT SERE MOTORS

Keep your car running at it's best

Whether your car is due its next service, or you've noticed a change in performance, the team at SERE Motors is here to help.

A routine service won't automatically improve your MPG, but checking an unexplained increase in fuel consumption can help identify an underlying problem.

BOOK A SERVICE

SEE WHAT CHANGES

How Can You Tell If You're Saving Fuel?

Want to know whether these changes are making a difference? Start tracking your fuel consumption.

Most modern cars display average miles per gallon (MPG) on the trip computer, making it easy to compare similar journeys.

Use the full-to-full method

Fill the tank to the pump's first automatic cut-off and reset your trip counter.
Drive as usual. At your next fill-up, fill to the first cut-off again.
Record the miles travelled and litres added. Don't top up beyond the cut-off.

The shortcut:
UK MPG = miles travelled × 4.54609 ÷ litres added.

Compare several fill-ups rather than relying on one result. Traffic, weather, tyre pressures and journey type can all affect your MPG, while slight differences in how fully you refill can affect the calculation.

WORKED EXAMPLE | UK MPG

320 miles travelled. 35 litres added.

01 | Convert to gallons

35 ÷ 4.54609

7.70 UK gallons

02 | Divide miles by gallons

320 ÷ 7.70

41.6 MPG

The shortcut:

UK MPG = miles travelled x 4.54609 ÷ litres added

Figures are rounded. This is an illustrative calculation, not a target for your car. Use UK (imperial) gallons rather than US gallons when comparing figures.

Small Changes, More Miles

You don't need to overhaul your driving habits to start improving fuel efficiency. Start with one or two changes that fit your everyday driving routine, keep an eye on your fuel consumption and build from there. Small adjustments can make a meaningful difference over time, helping you get more from every journey.