Sitting in spring traffic watching the fuel gauge drop is nobody’s idea of a good drive. Warmer weather, bank‑holiday trips and more stop‑start congestion can all nudge consumption up, but a few quiet tweaks to tech, tyres and routes can claw a surprising amount back. Modern sat-nav (satellite navigation) systems use GPS to calculate your route. Many now offer “eco-routing”, which tries to minimise fuel use rather than simply arriving the fastest.

Use tech more smartly

If your navigation offers eco or “fuel saving” routes, try them on regular journeys. They often favour smoother A‑roads over tightly packed shortcuts, and on many cars that can cut fuel use by 5–10% compared with a busy, stop‑start urban route of the same distance.

Live traffic data is worth having switched on. Sitting in a jam with the engine idling can burn 0.5–1.0 litres per hour in a typical petrol car, more in larger diesels, so avoiding one big queue might save more fuel than any driving “tip” on the same trip.

Adaptive cruise control is part of ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems, the electronic aids that support your driving). It keeps a set speed and distance automatically, and using it on steady, lightly trafficked roads can prevent the small speed swings that waste fuel, especially between 40 and 65 mph.

If you like data, an OBD (on-board diagnostics) dongle is a small device that plugs into your car’s diagnostic port and reads live information. Combined with a driving‑log service it can show exactly how hard accelerations, late braking and speeding affect your mpg, which often encourages smoother habits without you thinking about it.

Choose the right tyres

Spring is a good time to look beyond “are they legal” and think about tyre efficiency. Tyres sold in the UK carry a label for rolling resistance, usually rated A to E, and moving up one or two grades can trim typical fuel use by roughly 3–6% in everyday driving.

Tyre pressure matters even more. Being 0.5 bar (around 7 psi) under the recommended pressure can add 2–4% to your fuel bill and make the car feel vague in bends. Check pressures at least once a month and before any long run, ideally when tyres are cold rather than straight after a high‑speed drive.

If you’ve been running winter tyres, consider swapping back once temperatures are consistently mild. Winter tread blocks are softer and more heavily siped (cut) for snow and slush, which increases rolling resistance and can cost 3–8% in extra fuel on warm, dry tarmac.

Wheel and tyre size also play a quiet role. Very wide tyres and larger‑diameter wheels often look good but add weight and drag; if you have a choice between factory wheel sizes, the smaller option with a sensible tyre can give noticeably better mpg as well as a more comfortable ride.

Plan routes, not just times

For many petrol and diesel cars, the most efficient cruising band is roughly 45–60 mph in the highest gear. That means a slightly longer route on flowing roads at a steady 55 mph can use less fuel than a shorter, busy run that constantly swings between 20 and 40 mph.

Short hops are another hidden drain. A cold engine can use up to twice as much fuel in the first few kilometres as it does when warm, so combining errands into one 20‑mile loop instead of several 3–4 mile trips can make a very visible difference to your weekly spend.

Think about what’s on the outside of the car too. A roof box can increase fuel use by around 10–25% at motorway speeds, and even empty roof bars often cost 0.3–0.5 litres per 100 km. If you only need them a few times a year, removing them between trips keeps your “aero tax” down.

Checklist

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Enable eco or fuel‑saving routes on your navigation for regular journeys.

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Use cruise or adaptive cruise on steady roads, but not in heavy traffic.

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Check tyre pressures and tread depth before longer spring drives.

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Consider more efficient tyre labels or smaller wheel options when you next change.

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Combine short trips and avoid peak‑time congestion where you reasonably can.

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Take off unused roof boxes and bars to cut drag on every journey.

A few small decisions made now, as spring mileage ramps up, can easily feel like an extra week’s fuel in your pocket by summer. Start with the easiest win on this list and build from there on your next drive.