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With petrol at 157p and diesel past 185p per litre, UK drivers are spending more than ever at the pump. This guide covers 10 practical ways to drive less, how much you could save, plus advice for van drivers and why panic-buying an EV could backfire.
With UK petrol prices averaging 157p per litre and diesel surging past 185p in April 2026, millions of drivers are looking for practical ways to cut back on fuel spending. The Middle East conflict has pushed oil prices above $112 a barrel, and the disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz means prices could rise further before they settle. For a detailed breakdown of what is driving costs up and how long it might last, see our guide on whether petrol prices are going up.
The good news is that driving less does not mean giving up your car. Small changes to how often and how far you drive can add up to hundreds of pounds in savings each year - without any major lifestyle upheaval.
Since late February 2026, the conflict in the Middle East has disrupted the flow of oil and liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz - a waterway that carries roughly 20% of the world's energy supply. Oil prices have climbed above $112 a barrel, and diesel has been hit hardest because the UK imports around half of its diesel supply from international markets.
Between February and early April 2026, the average price of a litre of diesel jumped by around 39p. Petrol has risen by roughly 20p per litre over the same period. The government's 5p fuel duty cut stays in place until August 2026, but after that, duty will begin phasing back up to pre-2022 levels by March 2027, which means further increases could be on the way.
The average UK car covers around 7,100 miles a year, according to the Department for Transport. Cutting that by even 15-20% could save a typical petrol driver around £200-£300 a year at current prices - and more for diesel drivers. Here are ten ways to make it happen.
Here is a realistic look at how cutting mileage translates into savings at current fuel prices. These figures assume a typical family car doing around 40 miles per gallon for petrol or 45 miles per gallon for diesel.
| Mileage Reduction | Miles Saved Per Year | Petrol Saving (at 157p/litre) | Diesel Saving (at 185p/litre) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% less driving | 710 miles | ~£130 | ~£135 |
| 20% less driving | 1,420 miles | ~£260 | ~£270 |
| 30% less driving | 2,130 miles | ~£390 | ~£400 |
On top of the direct fuel savings, lower mileage means less wear on your tyres, brakes and engine oil - plus potentially cheaper car insurance. Insurers use your annual mileage as a key factor when pricing your cover. If your mileage has genuinely dropped, it is worth updating it at renewal. Our guide on how to lower your car insurance premium covers seven strategies that could help bring costs down.
If you drive a van, the current fuel price surge is likely costing you even more. Nearly all vans in the UK run on diesel, which has risen by around 39p per litre since February 2026 - almost double the increase seen on petrol. A typical van doing 12,000 miles a year at 35 miles per gallon is now spending roughly £3,500 a year on diesel at current prices. That is around £800 more than it would have cost before the conflict began.
Every tip on this page applies to van drivers too, but there are a few extra things worth considering. Optimise your delivery or job routes to reduce dead mileage - driving empty or backtracking between jobs wastes fuel. Remove heavy tools or materials you do not need for the day, because extra weight means extra fuel. And check your tyre pressures weekly. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance significantly, and vans are more vulnerable to this because of the heavier loads they carry.
If you are self-employed or run a small fleet, cutting even 10% of your mileage could save over £300 a year on fuel alone at today's prices. And when your van insurance is up for renewal, make sure you are declaring an accurate mileage. Overstating your mileage could mean you are paying more than you need to. You can compare quotes via Brumble to check whether a lower mileage figure brings your premium down.
Driving less is the most direct way to save money, but when you do need to use the car, small changes in how you drive can stretch every litre further.
| Habit | Potential Fuel Saving |
|---|---|
| Drive at 60mph instead of 70mph on motorways | Up to 15% better fuel economy |
| Keep tyres inflated to the correct pressure | Up to 3% improvement |
| Remove roof racks and boxes when not in use | Up to 10% improvement at motorway speed |
| Avoid harsh braking and rapid acceleration | 10-15% improvement in stop-start traffic |
| Turn off the engine when stationary for more than a minute | Prevents wasting fuel entirely while idle |
| Use air conditioning sparingly below 45mph | Reduces engine load and fuel use |
A dash cam will not cut your fuel costs directly, but it does encourage more careful, consistent driving. Some insurers also offer small discounts for drivers who use one, which is another way to keep motoring costs in check.
With fuel prices climbing, it is tempting to think that selling your paid-for petrol or diesel car and switching to an electric vehicle is the answer. But making a knee-jerk move could actually cost you more over the next five years, not less.
A new entry-level EV in the UK currently starts from around £15,000-£22,000. Even with the government's Electric Car Grant of up to £3,750, you are likely looking at a PCP finance agreement of £200-£350 a month for 4 years. On top of that, a home charger costs around £800-£1,200 to buy and install - and most homeowners no longer qualify for the government grant towards that.
Add it all up and a new EV on finance plus a home charger could easily cost you £12,000-£20,000 over five years in finance payments and installation costs alone - before electricity. If your current petrol car is already paid off, the extra fuel you are spending during this crisis is likely to be far less than the cost of switching. At current prices, even a petrol driver doing 7,000 miles a year is only paying around £1,300 a year in fuel.
The smarter move for most people right now is to hold tight, reduce the miles you drive where you can, and wait for supply lines to stabilise and fuel prices to settle. EVs are getting cheaper every year, and you will be in a much stronger position to switch when the time is genuinely right - not because panic pushed you into it.
If you are actively driving less, it is worth making sure your car insurance reflects that. Most insurers use annual mileage bands when calculating your premium, and dropping into a lower band - say from 10,000 miles down to 7,000 - could make a noticeable difference to what you pay.
When your renewal comes around, update your mileage estimate honestly. Do not understate it, because a claim could be affected if your actual mileage is significantly higher than what you declared. But equally, do not leave an old, higher figure in place if your driving habits have genuinely changed.
Choosing a car with lower running costs can also help in the longer term. If you are thinking about your next vehicle, our guide to the cheapest cars to insure can point you in the right direction. Smaller, lower-powered cars typically cost less to insure and less to fuel.
Driving fewer miles could mean cheaper car insurance. Compare quotes from 130+ insurers via Brumble to see if you could save on your next renewal.
Compare Car InsuranceAt current April 2026 prices, a typical petrol car covering 7,100 miles a year costs around £1,300 in fuel. A diesel car covering the same distance costs roughly £1,350. These figures are based on average pump prices of 157p per litre for petrol and 185p for diesel, and assume fuel economy of around 40mpg for petrol and 45mpg for diesel.
It can. Insurers use your declared annual mileage as one of the key factors when pricing your cover. If your mileage has dropped significantly, updating your estimate at renewal or when getting new quotes could bring your premium down. However, the impact depends on the insurer and the mileage bands they use. Our guide on how to lower your car insurance premium covers this in more detail.
For most people with a paid-off petrol or diesel car, switching to an EV during a fuel crisis is unlikely to save money in the short term. A new EV on finance plus a home charger installation could cost £12,000-£20,000 over five years, which is significantly more than the extra fuel costs most drivers will face during the current price spike. EVs make more sense as a long-term move when the timing and finances are right for you - not as a panic reaction to a temporary price surge.
If cutting journeys is not realistic, focus on driving more efficiently. Keeping your speed at 60mph rather than 70mph on motorways can improve fuel economy by up to 15%. Maintaining correct tyre pressure, avoiding harsh braking and acceleration, and removing unnecessary weight from the car all help too. Using a fuel price comparison app to find the cheapest local forecourt can also save £6-£10 per tank.
Diesel has risen by around 39p per litre since late February 2026 - nearly double the increase on petrol. For a typical van covering 12,000 miles a year, that adds roughly £800 a year in extra fuel costs compared to before the conflict began. Route planning, reducing dead mileage and checking tyre pressures regularly are the most effective ways for van drivers to offset some of that increase.
It depends on how the Middle East conflict develops. If shipping through the Strait of Hormuz stabilises, wholesale oil prices should ease, and pump prices would follow - though with a delay. However, the government's 5p fuel duty cut ends in August 2026 and duty will begin rising again from September, which could add further pressure. For the latest updates, read our regularly updated guide on whether petrol prices are going up.
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