5 Ways to Save Money on Fuel Costs with SKOOT

At SKOOT we've helped people drive over 400k greener and cleaner miles and planted over 270k trees, but we've all seen fuel prices rising steadily, and with the Ukrainian-Russian War, £3 per litre is imminent and we're all looking for ways to save on fuel.  

It's easy to say just switch to Electric Vehicles (EV), but the reality for many is that's not a viable option today, but also the waiting list on EV's is 4-12 months.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to save money on fuel costs, which means you can still afford to fill up the car to do the school run, go to an event, or commute to work.

Here are some tips from SKOOT to help you keep your budget in check:

1) Stop idling your car

2) Avoid driving during peak hours when traffic is heaviest

3) Be selective where you buy your fuel

4) Don’t use premium fuel when it isn’t necessary

5) Look at carpooling and sharing lifts

Stop Idling Your Car

One of the easiest ways to save money on fuel costs is to avoid idling your car when parked, such as waiting for a friend, or doing a drop-off. Some people idle in their cars to stay warm during the winter, or to stay cool in the summer, but it's easy to see that this practice can be costly. Idling your car for just fifteen minutes can burn through as much as 1 litre of fuel, which at £2 a litre, costing you 10-£20.a week. In an average year, a person who drives 12,000 miles will idle their car 1,440 times and waste 3,360 litres of fuel while they wait. That's a lot of money wasted!

(plus a lot of carbon that we're emitting)

Avoid Driving During Peak Hours

Driving during peak hours is one of the quickest ways to increase your fuel costs. Peak hours are usually between 7am and 9am, and then again from 4pm to 6pm. Avoid driving during these times as you will see a spike in traffic and your fuel consumption will be higher as it takes significantly more time to get from A to B, as congestion is much higher. With more flexible working and the norm of WFH, look to vary the time to avoid congestion. If you absolutely must drive during peak hours, try to take an alternative route and backroads to avoid congestion, or use public transportation such as tubes and buses.

Be Selective Where You Buy Your Fuel

Some petrol stations offer more competitive prices than others so pick where you buy your fuel from very carefully. A litre of unleaded petrol can be considerably cheaper at one garage area than it is at the next, always make sure to fill up at the cheaper one! Also avoid buying petrol on the motorway because it can be much more expensive.

Don’t Use Premium Fuel When It Isn’t Necessary

Some people mistakenly think that using premium fuel will save them money on their long-term engine and garage costs. In some cases, it might. But if you don’t need the higher octane rating to run your vehicle, then it’s best to use regular petrol in order to save money.

Look at Carpooling and Sharing Lifts

One way to save money on fuel costs is to look at carpooling and sharing lifts. SKOOT allows you to offer family, friends, colleagues lifts. You can offer them a lift and the SKOOT Ride app will automatically split the costs with them, which is a great way to save money and reduce congestion. You'll also plant a tree every drive, ride or share.