How to save fuel and dollars on your next road trip

While Electric Vehicles will certainly change the future of the car industry, for the millions of us still driving petrol cars, it's becoming more and more expensive to get on the road. And regardless of the price of petrol, we owe it to the environment to save where and when we can.

So if you want to save some dollars and reduce your impact on your next adventure, check out these six tips to help you save fuel and dollars on your next road trip.

Did you know that the correct tyre pressure can reduce fuel consumption by up to two per cent? So before you pack the boot or hitch the caravan, make sure you head to the servo and get those tyres pumped up.

Read your car’s manual to find the recommended minimum and maximum pressure – for packed cars, use the maximum. And while you’re there, pump your spare too. The correct tyre pressure will extend the life of your tyres too, meaning even more savings.

Easier said than done, but packing less will significantly reduce your fuel consumption, especially in urban areas and in stop-start traffic. So if you can’t unload any extra passengers, only pack what you really need. If you’re not going to hit the golf club, leave the clubs at home. And if you’re not planning on surfing, take off the roof racks.

Cranking the A/C can reduce your fuel efficiency by up to 20%. But, so can speeding along with the windows down due to the extra drag. For optimum efficiency, roll the windows down at speeds of 60km/h or less and turn on the A/C when you’re going faster than that. Keep the thermostat low and the fan high to keep the air refreshingly cool inside.

Studies have found that using cruise control on flat, long drives can save an average of 7-14% fuel. By staying at a continuous speed and eliminating unnecessary acceleration and deceleration, you also can reduce car wear and tear, and drivers will feel less fatigued. So take advantage of cruise control whenever you’re out on the open road!

Petrol can often be your biggest cost on a road trip. Save yourself a few bucks every time you fill up by searching for the cheapest petrol in the area with a fuel price app like Petrol Spy. Simply load up the map, and search by petrol type to see up to date prices from petrol stations in the area. It lists the big ones such as BP, 7Eleven and Shell as well as independents.

Stopping to stretch your legs and grab a coffee is a road-trip requisite, so make sure you’ve got your KeepCup and a hot thermos on hand to save big. You could also steal my Mum’s best road trip hack – start the trip with a huge bottle of frozen water in the esky. It’ll keep your lunch chilled, and slowly melt just when you’re ready to refill your bottle.

Of course, making sandwiches and packing some fruit is a great way to save money on a road trip, but you can also get creative. One of the best tips we’ve seen is loading up a tackle box with different snacks in each little compartment - think berries, cherry tomatoes, cabana, corn chips, carrots, grapes, chocolates, crackers and nuts. Now that sounds better than a cheeseburger and chips!

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