Some tips may seem like they contradict each other, but we reckon you'll save money – up to £13,000 - with our 100 easy ways to save money on your motoring.

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How to cut your fuel costs

1. Drive with your windows and sunroof closed – this will make your car more aerodynamic.
2. Remove any unnecessary items from your car, like toolkits in the boot or CDs in the glove box.
3. Remove your roof rack – it can increase fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent. If you don’t know how to do it get a professional to help.
4. Convert your engine to run on liquid petroleum gas (LPG), a fuel which costs less than unleaded and diesel. LPG costs 53 pence per litre on average and engine conversion rates range from £1,000 to £1,500*. Find out more on our LPG cars page.
5. Change gear at around 2,000rpm in a diesel car or around 2,500rpm in a petrol car to put less strain on your engine and use less fuel.
6. Avoid letting the engine warm up for five minutes before driving. It’s a big waste of fuel. Instead, drive gently for the first few minutes until the engine warms.
7. Move off gently and smoothly to your target speed and maintain it for maximum miles per gallon. Don’t accelerate harshly, as this uses a lot of fuel at once.
8. Check your tyre pressure regularly and fill to the recommended pressure, as poorly inflated tyres put more strain on your engine and burn more fuel.
9. Create your own fuel management system. Set yourself a weekly petrol limit and avoid short journeys where possible.
10. Avoid sorting out your mirrors, glove box or other action after starting your engine. Only switch on your engine when you're completely ready to drive.
11. Find your cheapest local petrol station with petrolprices.com. Avoid filling up on the motorway, as service stations can have higher petrol prices.

Follow these tips and you could cut your fuel costs in half. If it takes £80 to fill up your tank, you could save around half of this per week, depending on how much you use your car.

Maximum saving: £2,000 per year

Car insurance

12. Shop around – visit Auto Trader’s Car Insurance Centre to search from more than 300 insurance quotes.
13. Slow down – speeding tickets add an average of 13 per cent to insurance premiums.
14. Don't crash - accident-free motorists can be rewarded with no-claims discounts of up to 70 per cent.
15. Get a protected no claims bonus once you qualify for it, as you won’t lose your bonus if you make a claim. Each insurance company is different however, and some companies will nullify your protected no claims discount if you submit more than a certain amount of claims per year. But making a claim will still cause your premiums to rise.
16. Apply for a guaranteed no claims bonus, which enables you to protect your no claims discount for life. You’ll normally need at least five years of no claims before the insurance company will guarantee your bonus for life. They may increase your premium if you claim.
17. Choose third party cover if you own a low-value car and save money.
18. Take a Pass Plus scheme and potentially save hundreds of pounds on your insurance if you’re a new driver.
19. Avoid modifying your car, as some modifications will raise your premium. This is only the case if your vehicle is changed in any way from the manufacturer’s standard specifications.
20. Ask your insurance company if higher mileage will increase the price of your insurance – don’t always assume it will.
21. Get breakdown cover with your insurance company – they may offer inclusive cover at a discount rate.
22. Join a pay-as-you-drive scheme if you don’t use your car often and you could save hundreds of pounds.

Maximum saving: £1,000 per year

Buying a car

23. Set yourself a budget and stick to it.
24. Research a car thoroughly before buying. Search Auto Trader’s new and used car ads to find out the model’s going price, so you don’t overpay.
25. Get a vehicle data check if you’re buying a used car. This will tell you if it’s subject to outstanding finance, written off, scrapped or stolen – potentially saving you thousands of pounds.
26. Look around when considering car finance. You can compare over 400 loans on Auto Trader’s loan comparison page and potentially save thousands when buying a new car.
27. Shop around for a used car. Some dealers will be cheaper than others, but you’ll generally save more with a private sale or car auction.
28. Go green – choose a car with good fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions to make your fuel last longer. Take a look at our green motoring pages.
29. Buy a new car online – you can save an average of £3,000 when buying online, according to research by Which? magazine.
30. Haggle with the seller to slash the car’s price – read our haggling guide now.
31. Ask for extras to be thrown in – an up-to-date MOT, car tax disc and full tank of fuel can go a long way (and potentially save you £500).
32. Pay by cash – having cash ready may slash ten per cent off the list price of a new car from a dealer.

Maximum saving: £3,500

General driving

33. Cut long journey times (and fuel) by investing in a sat-nav. Find the best route, and never have to buy a map again.
34. Switch off electronic controls before turning your engine off, including lights, wipers, radio and the heater. This allows extra charge to run into the battery, making it last longer.
35. Buy a scraper and de-icer and read our guide on how to de-ice your car. If time is money, you’ll want to start the car up quickly on a frosty morning.
36. Set up a car-sharing scheme and get as many people in one car as possible, splitting petrol costs by up to seven times.
37. Take your foot off the accelerator early and slow to a stop or brake early in a smooth, light fashion. Anticipate stops and avoid abrupt braking to decrease fuel consumption and increase the life of your brakes and tyres.
38. Read our Cash or Car advice if your job offers you the choice between cash or a company car. You could be financially better off either way – so read our advice and find out the best choice for you.
39. Switch off your engine if you’re likely to be at a standstill for a long time. But a word of warning – doing this continually could flatten your battery.
40. Keep your fuel level at around the halfway mark – high enough to avoid breaking down and low enough to lighten the car, making it run longer.
41. Avoid built-up areas with junctions and speed bumps – regularly slowing down and speeding up is a less efficient way to drive.
42. Stay in the left lane on motorways if possible, as driving faster than 60mph will greatly increase fuel consumption.
43. Avoid braking and accelerating sharply.

Maximum saving: £500

Car maintenance 

44. Keep your coolant level topped up to avoid engine trouble and big repair bills.
45. Replace your car’s battery as soon as possible if it’s nearing the end of its life, and avoid a potentially expensive breakdown recovery.
46. Change the oil regularly – a dirty engine can lower fuel economy.
47. Carry out a few tyre checks each week to prevent paying for an early replacement. Check the tyre pressure, tread depth and look for any stones or nails in the tyre which could be damaging it. Remember, some punctures can be repaired cheaply.
48. Return your car for servicing at the correct time. Miss consecutive services and your warranty may become void, which could cost you hundreds of pounds on parts and services in the future. Keep a record of three receipts and service book stamps to increase your car’s value when you come to sell.
49. Change a tyre yourself and save service costs.
50. Fill up your tyres with air for free – there are plenty of garages which don’t charge for this service.
51. Avoid wasting money on a failed MOT test - check the windscreen for chips and cracks beforehand, along with the horn, wipers, door mirrors, seat belts, lights, handbrake and tyres.
52. Cut 15 per cent off a combined MOT and service at Kwik-Fit if you’re an Auto Trader customer.
53. Get your suspension checked for free at Kwik-Fit.

Maximum saving: £350

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Car tax 

54. Drive a company car and you may be able to save money on car tax – read our company car tax guide.
55. Buy annual tax rather than a six-month tax disc and save a maximum of £40.
56. Make sure your next car emits less than 100g/km of CO2 – for example the Goingreen G-Wiz, Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion or Seat Ibiza Ecomotive. You won’t have to pay any car tax at all.
57. Buy a car registered before 1 January 1974 and you’re exempt from paying road tax. Bear in mind it will be unlikely to have power steering, electric windows and other in-car comforts.
58. Pay for your car tax online and save postage fees as well as the time spent queuing up in a Post Office.
59. Submit a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) if your vehicle is going to be off the road for more than six months, and it’ll exempt from tax.
60. Buy a motorcycle and save hundreds of pounds in tax. Bikes with engines under 150cc cost just £15 to tax per year.
61. Get a car which runs on alternative fuel (anything other than petrol or diesel) and save at least £20 per tax band – read our fuel guide for more information.
62. Avoid the new 'showroom tax', which comes in force in March 2009, buy a greener car which emits less CO2, or buy before the changes happen. Visit our new cars homepage to select from hundreds of new cars.

Maximum saving: £1,500

Selling your car

63. Set your price correctly – too low and you could lose hundreds of pounds. Read our guide to setting a price.
64. Sell your car with Auto Trader and save time and money by advertising to more than 10 million motorists.
65. Place an ad for three weeks on the Auto Trader website and three weeks in the magazine to save £14.67.
66. Never leave your keys in the ignition after taking the buyer out on a test drive. If your car is stolen when you step out of the car to get into the passenger’s side, you won’t get a penny back.
67. Setup a Telesafe account and evade canvassers, who may try and sell you deals with fraudulent companies.
68. Write a great advert first time and you won’t have to pay for another one. Read our guide to wording your advert.
69. Visit various dealer forecourts before taking the best price for your car, if you’re selling to a dealer.
70. Price your car a few hundred pounds higher than the going rate and you’re more likely to get a good deal after the haggle. Read our guide to haggling now.
71. Don’t get caught by a scam. Read our sell safe advice and save more money towards your next car.
72. Sell your car at the right time – cars sell faster and for more money towards the beginning of the year. Read our depreciation advice.

Maximum saving: £300 

Tolls, roads and legal charges 

73. Pay a parking ticket fee within 14 days and it will cost you half the price. Fines issued outside London are no higher than £60 or £70; fines inside London are £80, £100, or £120.
74. Get a free Dart Tag attached to your windscreen and save 7p every time you cross the Dartford Tunnel - but you'll have to top up your Dart account every now and then, as with a pay as you go mobile phone or London Underground Oyster Card.
75. Get a blue badge if you're disabled, and you'll be exempt from toll fees and the London congestion charge.
76. Avoid the London congestion charge. Drive a congestion-charge beating car – you’ll save up to £25 if you drive one which emits less than 120g/km of CO2 from 27 October.
77. Pay the congestion charge before midnight on the following charging day, and avoid being issued a £120 penalty charge notice (PCN).
78. Drive with at least one other person and your car becomes eligible for a car-sharing lane, so you can beat the traffic and save money on fuel at the same time. One lane links the M606 in West Yorkshire with Junction 26 of the M62, and the other is on the M1 between St Albans and Luton between junctions 7 and 10.
79. Get a five per cent discount on the M6 toll with an M6 tag, which costs £1 per month.
80. Make an appeal if you think a parking ticket was unlawfully placed on your car – but bear in mind the fine will double if your appeal fails. Contact your local council for more information.

Maximum saving: £200

Car parts and repairs

81. Shop around – repair costs vary between dealers and garages.
82. Don’t always use the same garage for different repairs – you may be able to find a cheaper deal elsewhere.
83. Get your car professionally inspected before its warranty expires – this will highlight any faults, and get them repaired for free.
84. Shop around for the cheapest replacement car parts. Visit Auto Trader’s Car Parts and Accessories page.
85. Keep a spare tyre in your car so you don’t have to pay to be driven home. This isn't a legal requirement, but it will save time and money on fuel if you get a puncture.
86. Don’t ignore recall notices – take the car in for a free repair.
87. Invest in a battery charger to keep your battery from going flat, if you have a car which isn’t used regularly.
88. Keep the car serviced – dirty oil, clogged sparkplugs and faulty thermostats can increase fuel consumption, so ensure your car is serviced regularly.
89. Buy a car with cruise control – this maintains a constant speed, reducing the gradual speeding up and slowing down effect caused by driving normally. Cruise control is fitted as standard on many cars, although aftermarket systems can also be installed.
90. Consider buying a hybrid car which runs on electricity at low speeds.

Maximum saving: £300

Cleaning your car

91. Wash your car yourself to avoid paying for a car wash. Get a bucket of car shampoo, one large sponge, a water hose and a leather chamois for the exterior. Use a hoover and cloth for the interior.
92. Avoid using washing up liquid – this can cause rust, which will quickly depreciate the value of your car.
93. Shop around for the cheapest shampoos and cleaning products with Auto Trader’s Car Parts and Accessories page.
94. Check the back of an air freshener’s box to see if it lasts at least 30 days before buying – save spending money on multiple air fresheners.
95. Clean your car once a week to help maintain its value - when the time comes to sell, the value of a typical two or three-year-old family car can be reduced by as much as 40 per cent in comparison to the prices fetched by similar models which have been well cared for.
96. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations and choose a reputable local garage or car valet company, if you’re going to pay money for a car wash.
97. Buy an all-in-one car cleaning kit rather than separate items.
98. Use a bucket rather than a hose when cleaning your car. If you're on a water meter, you’ll save money on your bill.
99. Remove ink stains and cigarette burns from the upholstery before selling your car. You can do it yourself using surgical spirit, but be careful as this can discolour your car’s upholstery – not all do, but check before buying. It may be worthwhile to pay a professional – research shows an average cost of up to £3,483 is lost on a car with a stained interior.
100. Check the weekly weather report and clean your car after a rainy day and before a string of dry days – you won’t have to pay for another car wash as soon, and your car will look cleaner for longer.

Maximum saving: £4,000

Average grand savings total: £13,650!

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Tips nine and ten provided by Freight Best Practice, an organisation which promotes efficiency in freight operations.

*According to Central Garage (Carcroft) in Doncaster.

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