15 Ways to Cut Your Motoring Costs in the UK
Car Owl
Published in English •
Summary
- Shop around for insurance: Switching providers at renewal can save £200-£400 a year.
- Find cheap fuel: Use our fuel finder to save up to £300 a year on petrol or diesel.
- Drive smoothly: Gentle driving cuts fuel costs by up to 30%.
- Keep up with servicing: Catching small problems early stops expensive breakdowns.
Running a car in the UK costs an average of £3,500-£5,000 a year when you add up fuel, insurance, tax, servicing, and repairs. That is a big chunk of money.
The good news? You can cut hundreds — even thousands — off that figure with a few smart changes. Here are 15 proven ways to reduce your motoring costs.
1. Switch Car Insurance at Renewal
Never auto-renew your car insurance. The price almost always goes up if you stick with the same provider. Instead, compare quotes 3-4 weeks before your renewal date.
Most drivers can save £200-£400 by switching. Use comparison sites like Compare the Market, GoCompare, or MoneySupermarket. Get at least three quotes.
Read our car insurance renewal tips for more ways to bring the price down.
2. Find the Cheapest Fuel Near You
Fuel prices vary by up to 10p per litre between nearby stations. Over a year, that adds up to £200-£300.
Supermarkets (Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons) are usually the cheapest. Motorway services are the most expensive. Use our fuel price finder to compare prices near your home or workplace.
3. Drive More Smoothly
Aggressive driving — hard acceleration, late braking, and speeding — wastes a lot of fuel. Driving smoothly can cut fuel use by up to 30%.
- Accelerate gently and build speed steadily.
- Read the road ahead and brake early rather than late.
- Stick to the speed limit. Driving at 70mph uses 9% more fuel than 60mph.
- Use cruise control on the motorway.
Read our full guide to saving money on fuel for more tips.
4. Keep Tyres Properly Inflated
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which means your engine works harder and uses more fuel. They also wear out faster.
Check your tyre pressures at least once a month. The correct pressures are in your car's handbook or on a sticker inside the driver's door. Read our tyre tread guide for more.
5. Service Your Car on Time
Skipping services saves a little now but costs a lot later. A well-maintained car is more fuel efficient, more reliable, and less likely to need expensive repairs.
An annual full service costs around £150-£250. That is far less than a breakdown recovery call or a failed engine. See our car servicing guide for what to expect.
6. Do Simple Maintenance Yourself
You do not need to be a mechanic to do basic car maintenance. These simple jobs can save you £50-£100 a year:
- Top up washer fluid: Costs less than £2 from any supermarket.
- Replace wiper blades: Takes 5 minutes and costs £10-£20. Read our wiper blade replacement guide.
- Check and top up engine oil: A litre of oil costs £5-£15.
- Replace bulbs: Most headlight and tail light bulbs cost under £5 and are easy to change.
- Check tyre pressures: Free at most petrol stations.
7. Reduce Weight and Drag
Extra weight and wind resistance both increase fuel use:
- Remove roof racks and boxes when not in use. A roof box adds up to 20% to fuel consumption at motorway speed.
- Clear out the boot. Heavy items you do not need waste fuel on every journey.
- Close the windows at motorway speeds. Open windows create drag that costs you fuel.
8. Use Free Tax and MOT Checks
Stay on top of your car's tax and MOT for free. Late tax means a fine. An expired MOT means you cannot legally drive.
- Use our free MOT history check to check your MOT status.
- Use our free tax check to check your road tax.
Set reminders a month before both are due so you have time to shop around.
9. Avoid Unnecessary Journeys
Every journey costs money. Combine errands into one trip. A cold engine uses much more fuel than a warm one, so several short trips cost more than one longer one.
Consider walking or cycling for short distances. It is free and good for your health too.
10. Park Smart to Avoid Fines
Parking fines are a needless expense. A single ticket can cost £50-£100 — sometimes more in London.
- Always check signs and restrictions before parking.
- Use parking apps like RingGo or PayByPhone to pay and extend your time remotely.
- If you do get a ticket, you may be able to appeal. Read our parking fine appeals guide.
11. Consider a Smaller or More Efficient Car
If your car is costing you a fortune to run, it might be time to switch. Smaller, newer cars are cheaper to insure, tax, and fuel.
| Car Type | Typical Fuel Cost (per year) | Typical Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Small petrol (e.g. Fiesta) | £1,000-£1,300 | £400-£700 |
| Family diesel (e.g. Focus) | £1,100-£1,500 | £500-£900 |
| SUV (e.g. Qashqai) | £1,300-£1,800 | £600-£1,100 |
| Electric (e.g. Leaf) | £400-£700 | £500-£900 |
Electric cars are the cheapest to run per mile. Learn more in our electric car running costs guide.
12. Increase Your Insurance Excess
Your voluntary excess is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim. A higher excess means a lower premium. Increasing it from £100 to £300 or £500 can cut your insurance by 10-20%.
But only do this if you could afford to pay the excess in the event of a claim. Read our insurance excess guide for more.
13. Build Your No-Claims Bonus
Your no-claims bonus (NCB) is the most powerful discount on your insurance. Five or more years of no claims can reduce your premium by 60-70%.
Avoid making small claims that would cost less than your excess plus the lost NCB. It is often cheaper to pay for minor repairs yourself.
14. Check for Recalls
Manufacturer recalls are free fixes for known problems. If your car has an open recall, the dealer will fix it at no cost. But you have to know about it first.
Check whether your car has any outstanding recalls using the gov.uk vehicle recall checker. Read our guide to car recalls for more.
15. Plan Ahead for Big Expenses
Some costs are predictable. Tyres wear out. Brakes need replacing. The MOT comes around every year. Set aside a small amount each month for these expenses so they do not catch you off guard.
A good rule of thumb is to save £50-£100 a month into a "car fund" for maintenance and unexpected repairs. It is much less stressful than finding £500 for new tyres at short notice.
How Much Could You Save?
If you follow even half of these tips, you could save £500-£1,000 a year on motoring costs. Here is a quick summary:
| Action | Potential Annual Saving |
|---|---|
| Switch insurance | £200-£400 |
| Find cheaper fuel | £100-£300 |
| Drive smoothly | £100-£200 |
| DIY maintenance | £50-£100 |
| Remove roof rack | £50-£150 |
| Increase excess | £50-£100 |
Start with the easiest changes first. Even small savings add up over time. For more on cutting fuel costs specifically, read our fuel saving guide.
Read our other articles:
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