How to make your fuel last longer this summer – tips for your car or motorcycle

Published 8 May 2026
Last updated 8 May 2026

In this blog, we’ll be exploring ways you can save your fuel before your next car or motorcycle journey.

Summer is just around the corner and with the lighter days comes plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re planning your next holiday, taking the car or motorcycle out for leisure or just commuting, you’ll want to read these tips to help you save fuel.

Stay a step ahead by planning your trip

Before you go anywhere, it pays to plan your journey. Nobody likes spending time in traffic, so keep yourself updated on travel news and beat the queues. Happily, a bit of planning can also save you money as you drive. If you know which routes are busy, plotting an alternative gives you a chance of keeping your vehicle moving rather than stopping and starting which uses more fuel.

Sat navs with live traffic updates can really help you here – just make sure you’ve set your destination before you start your journey. If you’re using your mobile phone as a sat nav, remember it’s illegal to use a hand-held phone while driving. Make sure it’s securely in a holder or mount before you start, and stop in a safe place if you need to make adjustments.

Basic maintenance is key!

You’ve probably been told lots of times that it’s important to maintain your vehicle, here’s one of the reasons why you should. A poorly maintained engine has to work harder, which means it uses more fuel. To keep it running in tip top condition and save yourself some money, make sure you regularly check the engine oil and coolant levels and top them up if needed.

If you’re not sure how to do this, read our blogs on the subject or consult your vehicle handbook.

Your maintenance schedule should also include a tyre inspection. Check the tyre pressure, condition, and tread, as tyres that are underinflated or in poor condition cause increased rolling resistance, which is a major cause of higher fuel consumption.

Driving and riding tips to max fuel efficiency

Did you know the way you drive or ride affects the level of fuel your vehicle uses? Think about it: if you’re constantly braking and accelerating harshly, you’ll end up using more energy – and that means more fuel!

Here are some more tips to help cut those costs down.

• Avoid over-revving: not only does over-revving make a vehicle noisy, it’s also wasteful. Your neighbours and your wallet will thank you!
• Choose the right gear: driving or riding in a higher gear generally lowers the engine speed and saves fuel. Make sure you’re using the right gear for the conditions.
• Choose the right vehicle: if you’re looking for a new motorcycle or car, you should consider economy and emissions. Electric vehicles (EVs) have zero emissions and do not require traditional fuel like petrol to power them. You’ll have to make sure they’re charged before your journey, but the cost of fuel should not be an issue unless your vehicle is a hybrid, just the cost of charging. Of course, there are other important things to consider, and you can get more expert advice to help you with choosing a vehicle in The Official DVSA Guide to Driving – the essential skills or The Official DVSA Guide to Riding – the essential skills.
• Remember your hazard perception skills: staying aware of your surroundings can help you avoid harsh braking and sharp acceleration. Scan for hazards as you drive or ride and keep a safe distance between your vehicle and other road users.

Many cars have advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that you can use to help you drive more efficiently. Some motorcycles also have similar technologies, called advanced rider assistance systems (ARAS). When used in addition to your skills, you can reduce fuel wastage by using systems such as

• Cruise control, which lets you travel at a fixed speed and controls the amount of fuel provided to the engine
• Adaptive cruise control, which helps you keep a constant speed but can also detect the speed of vehicles ahead and adjust your vehicle’s speed to avoid harsh braking or accelerating
• Stop-start technology, which will automatically switch off your vehicle’s engine when it’s stationary to save fuel.

The technologies have been designed to make the roads safer, but can also save you money. However, they only do this if you learn how to use them properly. Remember, if you do use ADAS or ARAS, it’s still your responsibility to remain alert and in control of your vehicle.

Get more tips and expert advice

Our Advice section has more tips on fuel consumption and buying a car – with links to help you make your decision. If you’re looking for even more ways to improve your skills, make sure to check out the essential skills guides for motorcycle riders and car drivers. They’re packed with helpful information to help you on your riding or driving journey!

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