Tensions across the Middle East have had a major impact on global markets, including fuel. Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of all oil is shipped from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean. UK drivers are seeing petrol and diesel prices skyrocket, a result of the conflict that broke out at the end of February.
The latest data from RAC shows that fuel prices have shot up since the crisis broke out on February 28, and experts expect the costs to continue rising, and so it is crucial that motorists take measures to improve their fuel efficiency to, in turn, save money on petrol and diesel.
According to RAC's Fuel data, petrol is up 5p to 137.5p and diesel up 9p to 151p a litre since US and Israel first struck Iran.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams told the Express: "Unleaded is almost certainly going to reach an average of 140p in the next week or so while diesel looks highly likely to climb to at least 160p a litre.
"The price of diesel is increasing more quickly now than at any point since the start of the Ukraine conflict. With oil at a sustained $100, petrol could rise towards 150p a litre - a price not seen since June 2024. Diesel could reach almost 180p, which would be a three-year high."
Though fluctuating prices are beyond motorists' control, there are several steps motorists can take to ensure they’re not spending more than they should. The Express spoke to experts about some of the small changes UK drivers should make now, and has been provided with six essential tips to help reduce fuel consumption and save money.
Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, told the Express: “With conflict in the Middle East affecting economies worldwide – driving stubbornly high petrol and diesel prices even higher – many UK drivers feel like there’s nothing they can do to cut costs, but small changes can still add up to meaningful savings over time.”
The first thing motorists have been advised to do is use petrol-price comparison tools. While costs are increasing across the board, different petrol stations will have their own prices, and drivers will be able to save money “just by avoiding the most expensive forecourts and motorway services,” explains Ms Gammell.
“But be aware that those savings can easily be lost if you’re driving further distances to reach stations with cheaper petrol prices.”
There are a number of tools motorists can use to find the lowest prices, including RAC's free app myRAC. MoneySuperMarket's budget calculator can also help drivers work out how much of their income is spent on essentials and how much they should aim to spend, as their research shows UK households spend an average of 67% of their income on essentials, including household bills, food, and travel costs.
Drivers have also been urged to pay attention to how they drive. For example, aggressive acceleration, heavy braking, and driving at high revs will all burn fuel faster and waste it, which wastes your money.
“Driving more smoothly and easing off the accelerator can noticeably improve fuel efficiency over time,” says the financial expert.
Mr Williams also warned that “excessive speed is by far and away the biggest factor reducing your car’s fuel economy”.
This might be one of the most overlooked factors. Car maintenance is essential for drivers to save on fuel. Both MoneySuperMarket and RAC told the Express that underinflated tyres can adversely affect your fuel economy. Checking your tyre pressure is one of the easiest ways to keep your petrol costs down.
Car maintenance, however, goes beyond regular check-ups; keeping vehicles tidy is just as important.
This is because the extra weight and drag will cause unnecessary consumption. Ms Gammell advises drivers to remove unnecessary items from car boots and to remove roof racks or boxes when they’re not needed to reduce fuel use.
Although a tedious job, keeping your cars clean and free of clutter can also make a notable cost-saving difference to fuel economy.
Clearing out unnecessary items from your boot and backseat reduces the load on your engine. Every extra 25kg (roughly 55 lbs) can reduce fuel efficiency by about 1%.
The system that allows drivers to maintain a constant speed without using the accelerator is also a great way to cut fuel consumption, according to Chris Jevons, a vehicle repair specialist at JTAPE, a company which offers specialist masking and protection for global automotive and industrial markets.
He told the Express that “cruise control can help prevent small speed fluctuations that gradually increase fuel consumption over longer distances”.
Keeping a steady speed when driving is one of the most efficient ways to drive, and speaking of being efficient. Drivers should also avoid making multiple short trips where possible.
Mr Williams explained that once the engine is warm, it will operate at its most efficient. But when making several short trips, those cold starts will increase fuel consumption, even though the total mileage may be the same.
Don’t fill up your tank during peak delivery times, which are often during the day, Mr Jevons says. The vehicle repair specialist explained that “when underground tanks are being refilled, sediment at the bottom can become disturbed”.
Modern systems filter most of this out; however, “filling up during quieter periods can sometimes help ensure cleaner fuel and more consistent engine performance”.
He also advises motorists to keep their tanks above a quarter full.
Mr Jevons said: “Running a vehicle consistently on very low fuel levels can cause the fuel pump to work harder and draw in debris from the bottom of the tank over time. Keeping the tank at least a quarter full helps maintain smoother operation and efficiency.”
With temperatures slowly increasing, more and more drivers will soon be blasting their car air conditioners to keep themselves cool, but as experts suggest, the cost of fuel is expected to continue rising, and so motorists should think again before switching their cooling systems on.
Mr Jevons explained that: “Air conditioning systems draw power from the engine, which can increase fuel consumption, particularly on shorter journeys or in stop-start traffic.”
Though drivers do not have to completely sacrifice their comfort. He suggested “Using ventilation where possible, especially at lower speeds” to help cut “extra fuel demand”.
Ms Gammell also suggested, “using the air‑recirculation setting and switching the AC off once the car is cool” to further reduce fuel consumption.
The difference of giving your engine a few minutes to 'warm-up' can slowly add up to pounds of wasted fuel that isn't even being used for travel. And while many are guilty of this, Mr Jevons is urging motorists to stop, as it is unnecessary.
He said: "Modern engines don’t need to be left idling to warm up for long periods. Allowing the engine to idle for several minutes before driving simply burns fuel without moving the vehicle."
Instead, simply drive "gently," as it's a "far more efficient approach" than burning fuel without even moving.
While these changes might not be dramatic, the practical approaches will certainly help reduce how much fuel vehicles use daily and save you money during the uncertain period.
