Tips to save money on petrol - and if supermarket fuel quality really is bad

23 September 2023 , 06:00

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Petrol and diesel prices have been rising again (Image: Getty Images/Image Source)

Trying to make sense of the inflation figures – as I’ve spent all week doing on television and radio – is a bit of a nightmare at them moment.

The cost of some items is coming down, like some key food products, but not by loads. Accommodation and flights were cheaper over the month, which will come as news to anyone booking a holiday. But for beleaguered motorists, the most depressing news was the rise in the price of petrol.

Petrol costs rose by 5.3 pence between July and August 2023 to a whopping 148.5 pence per litre. Diesel also rose by 5.9 pence to reach 151.1 pence per litre. While we haven’t quite hit the bonkers prices of last year, there’s little doubt that people who are reliant on their vehicles will be feeling the pinch. So how can you battle the price rises? Here’s my guide.

Finding the best price at the petrol station

This time last year, I presented some exclusive research on Rip Off Britain Live on BBC One, that looked at petrol prices around the UK. The research showed that there wasn’t that much difference in the average price for petrol, though the supermarkets were a little cheaper than the big brands – though only by a few pence per litre.

Comparing petrol prices is complicated though, as many petrol stations operate as independent franchisees, which means you can’t be sure what the price will be from one station to the next. So finding the best deals means keeping an eye on the prices in your local area.

Morrisons is offering customers 5p off every litre of fuel - but there's a catch

Why not sign up to some of the free neighbourhood apps in your local area, or groups on social media? There are often online groups and conversations dedicated solely to petrol prices – which may well be the best way to find out the nearest bargain to you on a day-to-day basis.

One of the most common questions I am asked about petrol relates to quality, with people wanting to know if supermarket petrol is lower quality than the more expensive bigger brands. The short answer is; this is an urban myth. All petrol sold in the UK must meet stringent standards, so supermarket fuel isn’t a "lower quality" option.

However, some of the big brands say they use additives in their petrol to enhance performance. The jury is out on the difference that may or may not make – and this subject certainly inflames passions! So let’s just say that petrol quality is not "worse" in supermarkets – it just doesn’t usually have additional extras.

One other suggestion you might want to try is to sign up to the loyalty schemes offered by most petrol providers. Again, the savings aren’t massive, but if you are limited in options in your local area, it might be a good idea.

How to make the most of your petrol consumption

Given the limited savings you can make by trying to find the cheapest fuel on the forecourt, the best way to save some cash is to change the ways you run and operate your vehicle.

Firstly, check your speed. It’s a bit of a misconception that going slower saves you cash, but aggressive driving, accelerating quickly and hitting the brakes more does cut in to your fuel efficiency. Chill out and save some cash! The same goes for leaving the engine idling.

Turn off the engine when you can – but only when it’s safe to do so. The experts tell us that driving in the highest gear possibly helps you save cash too as you’re laying off the accelerator – and overuse of that brake can impact on your wallet too.

You can also save a lot of money by lightening the load. Overfilling the petrol tank can make your car heavier which costs you more in fuel efficiency. But the simplest thing to do is clear out your car of anything that might be adding to the load, which will make it run much more efficiently. Just by removing the things you don’t need in the boot you could make your car more efficient to run.

Another tip is to take off things like roof racks, which can add weight to the vehicle and produce drag. Make sure your tyres are fully inflated too – though we have heard of some petrol stations starting to charge for air. Lower tyre pressure can also add to the drag on your car.

There’s a bit of a debate among drivers about what you save by having the air con off versus open windows. This may be a bit of a moot point with the current weather, but in general, if you’re going at slow to normal speeds, open the window. If you’re going faster, then having open windows might add to the drag, making it slightly cheaper to shut them and pop on the air con.

Morrisons launches petrol deal that could save you big on fuel bills this month

Buying a new vehicle

Prices have been high for a while now – and when the wholesale prices dropped, the savings did not find their way in to our pockets. So realistically, we need to get used to higher prices for the time being.

So many motorists might be considering an upgrade to a more efficient or greener vehicle. There are challenges here, because demand has reduced the number of vehicles available. That means good prices for second hand vehicles. However, you might find a newer electric car harder to source.

Either way, there are grants available for people purchasing low emission vehicles. This should be factored in to the price but make sure you ask. More details are available on Gov.uk.