We reveal the tips to beat the tricks with eight great ways to drive down your car costs.

1. Speeding tickets

Driving 5mph over the limit is enough for a Police officer to hand you a speeding ticket, or ‘Fixed Penalty Notice’. This includes a £60 fine and three points on your license.

If you drive 15-20mph over the limit, you could face prosecution – including a fine of up to £2,500, three to six penalty points and a possible driving disqualification.

Tip: Sat-nav

Some sat-nav devices will display the speed limit and alert you when you approach a speed camera, giving you enough time to check your speed and slow down.

It’s worth checking the sat-nav’s website for the latest map updates and camera locations before setting off on a long journey.

View 25 ways to save money on fuel:

2. Wrong fuel

Each day more than 400 motorists fill up diesel cars with petrol – a mistake which can cost a few hundred pounds to drain and replace fuel and filters, or thousands for an engine and fuel system repair.

For business drivers, missed meetings and deliveries add millions more to the total cost of misfuelling.

Tip: Special fuel caps

Fit a device called Rightfuel to your fuel cap filler neck – this automatically blocks the delivery of wrong fuel. For more information visit caparorightfuel.com.

Some new cars have special fuel caps which prevent the wrong fuel type completely – most new Fords include this. Check what’s written on the fuel cap, or inside of the fuel filler cap.

3. Petrol prices

The cost of fuel is a big worry for thousands of motorists. With high forecourt prices and more cars on the road, your fuel gauge may be pointing to ‘empty’ sooner than you think.

Tip: Drive green

Here’s three easy ways to make your fuel go further:

• Stay in the left lane on motorways where possible – doing 56mph uses 25 per cent less fuel than 70mph
• Avoid harsh braking and accelerating – changes in speed should be gradual
• Change gear between 2,000rpm and 2,500rpm to put less strain on your engine and use less fuel

4. Car breakdowns

Whether you’re driving on a summer holiday or coming home from work, the last thing you want is for your car to breakdown.

According to the AA the most common breakdowns are due to flat batteries, damaged tyres and wheel problems.

Tip: Keep in check

Look after your car and it’ll look after you. Here are three weekly tasks to reduce the risk of a breakdown:

1. Use a battery charger to check your battery’s condition
2. Check your tyre pressure is correct – view your vehicle handbook for your car’s recommended pressure
3. Check your oil – ensure it rests between the minimum and maximum marks on the dipstick

5. The London congestion charge

It costs £8 per day to enter the congestion zone, which has been in place for more than five years. This increases to £10 if you pay by midnight the following day (excluding Friday and Saturday). If you don’t pay the C-Charge, you’ll be sent a £120 penalty charge notice (PCN).

Tip: Drive a green car

Drive an alternative-fuel car and you’ll be exempt from the charge, which could save you up to £1,600 per year. This includes vehicles powered by hydrogen, electricity, LPG, Natural Gas and hybrids.

You must register your car for exemption before entering the zone. To register, call 0845 900 1234.

6. Toll charges

There are a variety of toll roads in the UK which cost anything from £1 to £8.

With the M6 toll currently at £4.50 and the Dartford crossing now costing £1.50 each way, the price of tolls is an extra burden for motorists. But there are ways to save…

Tip: Toll tags

Tags are small electronic devices which attach to your windscreen and are scanned when you pass a toll booth. Your bank account will be charged with a reduced fee.

Each toll road requires its own tag – but check first, as not all tolls have a scheme – especially private road tolls, where the owner can set their own charges.

7. Sat-nav disasters

Sometimes sat-navs don’t always work as they should, and can send motorists down steep, twisty roads to locations which seem to be the middle of nowhere.

Motorists have been sent into fields, across narrow country lanes and even rivers…

Tip: Check routes

Always double-check your route before setting off – use roadmaps or the Internet to see if there are different destinations with the same name.

Carry a spare up-to-date map in your car. If you get lost or the sat-nav goes wrong, pull over somewhere safe and check the map to ensure you’re on track.

8. Mobile phone fines

It’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving – you could receive a fixed penalty of £60, a fine of up to £1,000 and three points on your license.

If a crash or dangerous driving is involved, you can also be prosecuted for careless driving, dangerous driving or causing death by dangerous driving.

Tip: Hands-free kit

There is no law against using hands-free kits to talk while driving, unless the motorist is found to be driving dangerously or carelessly.

Despite Bluetooth devices being easy to use, they are still classed as a “driver distraction”. It’s a good idea to keep conversations as short and as simple as possible.

Video: Save fuel

Ex-Top Gear presenter Quentin Wilson shows you how to go green and save fuel:

Has the credit crunch affected your driving? Have your say on the Auto Trader Blog