Fuel-efficient driving tips
Improving your fuel efficiency through eco-driving can help the environment, and help save you money in the long run. Read our tips on how you can make your fuel go further.
Published: 5 August 2026
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Key takeaways
- Fuel-efficient driving means using certain techniques to reduce your fuel consumption and costs.Fuel-efficient driving means using certain techniques to reduce your fuel consumption and costs.
- Driving at a steady speed, shifting up early, and avoiding heavy braking can really improve your miles per gallon (mpg).Driving at a steady speed, shifting up early, and avoiding heavy braking can really improve your miles per gallon (mpg).
- Keeping your tyres at the correct pressure, removing unnecessary weight, and regular servicing all help your car run more efficiently.Keeping your tyres at the correct pressure, removing unnecessary weight, and regular servicing all help your car run more efficiently.
- Coasting in gear (lifting off the accelerator while the car is in gear) uses virtually no fuel in modern cars and is much safer than coasting in neutral.Coasting in gear (lifting off the accelerator while the car is in gear) uses virtually no fuel in modern cars and is much safer than coasting in neutral.
- Small changes add up - things like planning your route to avoid stop-start traffic can make a real difference to how much fuel you get through.Small changes add up - things like planning your route to avoid stop-start traffic can make a real difference to how much fuel you get through.
What is fuel-efficient driving?
Fuel-efficient driving is a set of habits and techniques that help you use less fuel every time you drive. People sometimes call it eco-driving or driving economically. The idea is that smoother driving, a bit of planning, and a well-maintained car mean your engine does less work, so you burn less fuel.
Fuel-efficient driving can use up to 10% less fuel, which could save you a lot of money over a year.
You can do it with any car and you don’t need any special equipment. Most fuel-saving changes come down to how you accelerate, brake, and anticipate the road ahead.
How can the way I drive save fuel?
The biggest savings come from changing the way you use the accelerator and brakes:
- Accelerate gently. Press the pedal smoothly rather than flooring it away from every junction. Aggressive acceleration can use up to 60% more fuel on urban roads.Accelerate gently. Press the pedal smoothly rather than flooring it away from every junction. Aggressive acceleration can use up to 60% more fuel on urban roads.
- Shift up early. In a manual car, move to a higher gear before the revs climb too high. As a rough guide, try changing up by around 2,000-2,500 rpm for a petrol engine and 2,000 rpm for a diesel. If your car has a gear-shift indicator, follow its suggestions.Shift up early. In a manual car, move to a higher gear before the revs climb too high. As a rough guide, try changing up by around 2,000-2,500 rpm for a petrol engine and 2,000 rpm for a diesel. If your car has a gear-shift indicator, follow its suggestions.
- Read the road ahead. The further ahead you look, the earlier you can adjust your speed. If you spot a red light or slowing traffic in the distance, ease off the accelerator rather than driving up to the queue and braking hard. This steady approach keeps you in a higher gear for longer and avoids wasting fuel on stopping and starting.Read the road ahead. The further ahead you look, the earlier you can adjust your speed. If you spot a red light or slowing traffic in the distance, ease off the accelerator rather than driving up to the queue and braking hard. This steady approach keeps you in a higher gear for longer and avoids wasting fuel on stopping and starting.
- Keep up a steady speed. Frequent speed changes waste fuel. Where it is safe, try to keep a consistent pace and leave plenty of space to the vehicle in front so you can change your speed gradually.Keep up a steady speed. Frequent speed changes waste fuel. Where it is safe, try to keep a consistent pace and leave plenty of space to the vehicle in front so you can change your speed gradually.
If you’re commuting through a busy town, leaving a few minutes earlier and driving at a relaxed, even pace could cut your fuel use. Racing between traffic lights can really up your fuel consumption, without saving much time.
What does coasting mean?
Coasting means letting the car move forward without pressing the accelerator - by changing into neutral or pressing the clutch. However, this removes engine braking, making the car harder to slow down – especially on hills or in the wet. This can be dangerous and is not recommended.
Using engine braking is a safer, fuel-saving technique. When you see a junction or roundabout ahead, simply lift off the accelerator early. Leave the car in gear and let the engine braking effect slow you steadily.
What’s the most fuel-efficient speed?
There’s no single perfect speed, but the most fuel-efficient speed for most cars is roughly 55-65 mph, where the speed limit allows. Fuel consumption rises sharply above this because air resistance increases with speed - at 70 mph you can use up to 20% more fuel than at 60 mph.
On motorways, sticking closer to 60 mph rather than pushing towards 70 makes a real difference over a long journey. In town, it’s all about smoothness - a steady 25-30 mph is usually more efficient than repeatedly accelerating and braking.
Does cruise control use more fuel?
- On motorways and other flat open roads, cruise control can actually help save fuel by maintaining a constant speed.On motorways and other flat open roads, cruise control can actually help save fuel by maintaining a constant speed.
- This is because you avoid making the small surges that come from manually adjusting the accelerator.This is because you avoid making the small surges that come from manually adjusting the accelerator.
- However, on hilly roads or in stop-start traffic, cruise control can use more fuel. It may accelerate harder than most drivers would to hold its set speed going uphill, and it can’t anticipate changes ahead.However, on hilly roads or in stop-start traffic, cruise control can use more fuel. It may accelerate harder than most drivers would to hold its set speed going uphill, and it can’t anticipate changes ahead.
- It’s best to use cruise control on flat motorways and dual carriageways, but switch back to manual control on hilly or congested roads.It’s best to use cruise control on flat motorways and dual carriageways, but switch back to manual control on hilly or congested roads.
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How does vehicle maintenance affect fuel consumption?
A car that isn’t well maintained has to work harder, which means more fuel consumption. The key areas to focus on are:
- Tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance. Check pressures at least once a month and before long journeys - even being a few psi low can reduce fuel economy by 1-2%.Tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance. Check pressures at least once a month and before long journeys - even being a few psi low can reduce fuel economy by 1-2%.
- Engine oil. Using the manufacturer-recommended oil reduces internal friction and helps the engine run efficiently.Engine oil. Using the manufacturer-recommended oil reduces internal friction and helps the engine run efficiently.
- Air filters. A clogged filter restricts airflow. Replacing it during a service can improve both performance and economy.Air filters. A clogged filter restricts airflow. Replacing it during a service can improve both performance and economy.
- Regular servicing. Worn spark plugs, ageing sensors and minor leaks all quietly increase fuel use. An annual service catches these early.Regular servicing. Worn spark plugs, ageing sensors and minor leaks all quietly increase fuel use. An annual service catches these early.
Find out what to do if your car breaks down in our guide – What to do if your car breaks down.
If you have Tesco Car Insurance, your breakdown cover could help to get you going again.
How can I reduce fuel consumption before setting off?
Some of the easiest fuel-saving steps happen before you turn the key:
- Remove unnecessary weight. Clear the boot of anything you do not need - golf clubs, pushchairs or bags you keep meaning to drop off. Extra weight means the engine works harder.Remove unnecessary weight. Clear the boot of anything you do not need - golf clubs, pushchairs or bags you keep meaning to drop off. Extra weight means the engine works harder.
- Take off roof racks and boxes when not in use. Even an empty rack increases drag and can raise fuel consumption by around 5% at motorway speeds.Take off roof racks and boxes when not in use. Even an empty rack increases drag and can raise fuel consumption by around 5% at motorway speeds.
- Plan your route. A sat nav or traffic app can help you avoid roadworks and congestion. A slightly longer but free-flowing route often uses less fuel than the direct route through heavy traffic.Plan your route. A sat nav or traffic app can help you avoid roadworks and congestion. A slightly longer but free-flowing route often uses less fuel than the direct route through heavy traffic.
- Combine short trips. Cold engines use a lot more fuel. Doing several errands in one loop while the engine is warm is more efficient than making separate trips.Combine short trips. Cold engines use a lot more fuel. Doing several errands in one loop while the engine is warm is more efficient than making separate trips.
How can I save petrol when stuck in traffic?
Traffic jams are frustrating, but you can reduce wasted fuel while queuing:
- Switch off your engine if you expect to stop for more than a minute. Many newer cars do this automatically with stop-start systems. If yours doesn’t, just turning it off with the key helps, if the traffic’s stationary and it’s safe to do so.Switch off your engine if you expect to stop for more than a minute. Many newer cars do this automatically with stop-start systems. If yours doesn’t, just turning it off with the key helps, if the traffic’s stationary and it’s safe to do so.
- Leave a sensible gap to the car ahead so you can creep forward in a higher gear rather than repeatedly using first gear.Leave a sensible gap to the car ahead so you can creep forward in a higher gear rather than repeatedly using first gear.
- Be smart with air conditioning. At low speeds or when stationary, opening a window uses less fuel. At motorway speeds, air conditioning is usually the better choice because open windows create dragBe smart with air conditioning. At low speeds or when stationary, opening a window uses less fuel. At motorway speeds, air conditioning is usually the better choice because open windows create drag
Does the car I drive affect fuel efficiency?
Yes. The fuel consumption of cars varies a lot depending on engine size, weight, and its shape:
- Cars with small engines (1.0-1.4 litre) generally use less fuel for everyday driving.Cars with small engines (1.0-1.4 litre) generally use less fuel for everyday driving.
- Hybrid cars combine a petrol engine with an electric motor and can significantly cut fuel use, particularly around town.Hybrid cars combine a petrol engine with an electric motor and can significantly cut fuel use, particularly around town.
- Diesel engines tend to return better mpg on longer motorway journeys, though the price per litre is often higher.Diesel engines tend to return better mpg on longer motorway journeys, though the price per litre is often higher.
- Electric cars use no petrol or diesel at all and can have much lower per-mile energy costs.Electric cars use no petrol or diesel at all and can have much lower per-mile energy costs.
When choosing your next car, checking the official mpg or WLTP figure (range for electric vehicles) is a useful starting point. What you get in the real world is usually lower than the official number, but it gives a decent way to compare models.
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