Drivers could spend £400 more on petrol this year than last year

Think you spent a lot of money on petrol last year? Well, we’ve got some news for you.

According to research, the average driver will spend £2,261 to fill up their tank this year compared to £1,866 last year – an increase of more than 21%.

Spike at the pump

In a survey carried out by car dealer Motorpoint, drivers reported spending £8.59 more at the petrol station last month than they did in January 2022.

The 21% spike at the pump in January has led analysts to believe motorists will likely spend £395 more on fuel overall this year.

Based on the average car needing to be refuelled about every eight days, Motorpoint estimate that drivers will spend approximately £188.41 per month on fuel.

75% of the 2,083 car owners surveyed reported that it was more expensive to fuel their car this year than it was at the same time last year., And half of drivers felt they were being charged too much at the pump.

The average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on 6 February was 148.8p according to data from Experian.

Driving more efficiently

While 58% admitted that they were concerned about the price of fuel, Motorpoint say there are some things you can do to reduce fuel consumption.

Tim Rodie, driving expert at Motorpoint, said: “Although opting for a fuel-efficient vehicle is the easiest way to make big savings when it comes to how much you spend on fuel, this isn’t a possibility for everyone.

“No matter the car you drive, there are small changes you can make to your driving habits that can help with fuel economy, allowing you to go further between fill-ups.

“While it can be nice to get some fresh air in your car, open windows make your car less aerodynamic, meaning your car needs to work harder and will use more fuel.

“As a general rule, opening your windows is best when driving around at lower speeds and air-conditioning is more efficient if you’re on the motorway.”

Other changes include emptying the boot of the car and keeping on top of routine maintenance. Driving carefully matters too.

“Sticking to the speed limit, anticipating what is going to happen on the road in front of you and easing into the accelerator are all really easy ways to help you preserve fuel.”

The cost of living crisis is also causing young drivers to delay their car repairs. Read more here.