Petrol and diesel drivers save £40 after changing one driving habit

Petrol and diesel owners could save up to £40 worth of fuel by making one adjustment behind the wheel, according to experts. Motoring specialists at Vertu have warned that changing driving style to be less aggressive can pay off, with driving slower likely to have major financial benefits. The car experts admitted aggressive acceleration and braking can increase fuel use by as much as 40%, meaning cutting down on the actions can have the opposite effect.

Driving slower, refusing to accelerate sharply and lightly coasting to a stop could be one of the best ways to save fuel as the current crisis continues. With the cost of filling a 55-litre diesel car to the brim now costing £100, a 40% reduction in fuel consumption would see road users save the equivalent of £40 in fuel.

Vertu explained: “In congested traffic, many drivers accelerate towards the car ahead and brake sharply when it slows. This cycle is one of the biggest causes of fuel waste in heavy conditions. According to government ecodriving guidance, aggressive acceleration and braking can increase fuel consumption by 10–40% in stop-start driving.”

Scott Greensmith, motor expert at ClickMechanic has also warned motorists to ditch harsh acceleration and braking if they wanted to stay on top of their spending.

He said: “Driving more smoothly and anticipating traffic ahead can make a noticeable difference to efficiency. Constant stop-start driving and sudden bursts of speed force the engine to work harder, which uses more fuel over time.”

The AA has previously warned that “taking your foot off the accelerator and maintaining a steady speed” can pay off, with road users likely to save some money by adopting the technique. It comes as the UK’s fuel crisis continues to be a concern, with unleaded petrol and diesel fuel costs soaring in recent weeks.

According to RAC Fuel Watch, unleaded petrol has now risen by a whopping 21.6p per litre since the end of February. Meanwhile, diesel costs have also surged, with average pump prices now 42.9p per litre higher than just five weeks ago.

Price hikes look set to continue, with RAC Fuel Watch experts predicting that petrol and diesel fees were still “likely to rise”.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “The increases drivers have had to endure in March 2026 far exceed those seen in the early days of the war in Ukraine.

“While the monthly rise in a litre of petrol is bad enough, the jump in the cost of diesel is even harder to swallow at 40p a litre – 18p more than the previous monthly record.”