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How to save fuel and money on a road trip
Learn how to save fuel on a road trip with simple tips for efficient driving, tyre pressure, route planning, fuel prices, packing and car maintenance.
Fuel can be one of the biggest expenses on a road trip, particularly when you're covering long distances.
While you can't control the price at the pump, you can control some of the factors that determine how much petrol or diesel your car uses. Making a few simple changes before and during your journey can therefore help you save fuel and reduce the overall cost of your road trip.
From using the RACV App and packing less luggage to getting your car serviced, here are some simple ways to save fuel and money on your next road trip.
Have an electric vehicle (EV)? Here's how to plan the best EV road trip routes instead.
The RACV App lets you search for the closest and cheapest petrol prices.
Compare fuel prices before filling up
Fuel prices can vary between service stations, suburbs and towns, so it pays to compare prices before you fill the tank.
The RACV App's free Fuel Finder lets you search for the closest and cheapest petrol and diesel near you in real time when you need to fill up. The fuel prices in the app are updated every 15 minutes, based on information provided by the fuel stations.
When travelling in regional or remote Australia, consider filling up when you have the opportunity rather than waiting for the cheapest possible price. Don't pass a suitable fuel stop unless you're confident you have enough fuel to safely reach the next one.
More: Calculating the cost of fuel - petrol prices explained
Plan a fuel-efficient road trip route
The shortest route isn't necessarily the most fuel-efficient. Heavy traffic, frequent intersections, roadworks and difficult terrain can all lead to additional acceleration, braking and idling.
Planning your route before leaving can help you avoid unnecessary kilometres, congestion and lengthy detours. Check traffic conditions and road closures before setting off and, where practical, avoid travelling through major cities during peak periods.
Planning ahead is particularly important in regional and remote Australia, where service stations can be a considerable distance apart. Identify suitable fuel stops along your route rather than waiting until the fuel warning light appears.
Make sure to inflate your tyres to their recommended PSI before a road trip.
Does tyre pressure affect fuel economy?
Yes. Underinflated tyres increase rolling resistance, meaning your engine has to work harder to keep the vehicle moving.
Check your tyre pressure when the tyres are cold before starting a long journey. The manufacturer's recommended pressures can generally be found on a tyre placard inside the driver's door opening or in the owner's manual.
Many petrol stations have a free-to-use tyre air system that allows you to select which PSI you need. Pump up your tyres to the maximum recommended pressure (including your spare, in case you get a flat tyre) to reduce rolling resistance and fuel consumption.
It's always a good idea to carry your own tyre pressure gauge and check the pressures yourself to help ensure an accurate reading.
Remember that the recommended pressure may differ when the vehicle is heavily loaded. Check the manufacturer's recommendations before departing with passengers, luggage, a caravan or trailer.
Correct tyre pressure is also important for safe handling, braking and tyre longevity.
More: How to buy the best tyres for your car
Does carrying extra weight use more fuel?
Yes. Additional weight means your vehicle generally needs more energy to accelerate and move, which can increase fuel consumption.
Keep your vehicle as light as possible by only packing the essentials, such as your car emergency kit. Remove unnecessary items from the boot and cabin before leaving. While individual lightweight items are unlikely to make a meaningful difference, substantial additional weight can contribute to higher fuel consumption.
Roof racks, roof boxes and other external accessories can also increase aerodynamic drag, which increases fuel consumption. If you don't need them for your trip, consider removing them.
Accelerate smoothly to save fuel
Repeated hard acceleration can use more fuel than gradually building speed. Instead, accelerate smoothly and try to anticipate what's happening further along the road.
For example, if you can see traffic slowing or a red light ahead, ease off the accelerator early rather than continuing to accelerate before braking heavily.
Leaving an appropriate following distance can also give you more opportunity to adjust your speed gradually as traffic conditions change.
More: Money saving tips to help cut the costs of owning a car
Does cruise control save fuel?
Constantly changing speed can increase fuel consumption because the engine repeatedly needs to accelerate the vehicle. Cruise control can help reduce fuel consumption by maintaining a consistent speed and reducing unnecessary acceleration.
Cruise control is generally most useful on long, relatively flat stretches of highway where traffic conditions allow you to maintain a steady speed. But it isn't necessarily the most fuel-efficient choice on hilly roads, where the system may use additional fuel accelerating to maintain its set speed while climbing a hill.
Only use cruise control when conditions make it safe and appropriate, and remain ready to take control of your vehicle's speed.
More: Best car safety features and systems in modern cars
Do hybrid cars use less fuel than petrol cars?
Hybrid cars can use less fuel than conventional petrol cars because they combine a petrol engine with an electric motor and battery. At lower speeds and under light loads, some hybrids can drive using electric power alone for short periods, meaning the petrol engine may not need to run continuously.
Even when the petrol engine is operating, the electric motor can assist with acceleration, reducing the workload on the engine and potentially lowering fuel consumption. Hybrids can also use regenerative braking to recover energy when slowing down and store it in the battery for later use.
These benefits are often greatest in urban and stop-start driving. On long highway stretches, where the petrol engine may operate more consistently, the fuel-saving advantage of a hybrid can be smaller. Fuel consumption varies considerably between vehicles, so check the manufacturer's figures for your particular model.
More: Do hybrid cars and SUVs match their fuel consumption claim?
What speed is most fuel-efficient?
Stop-start driving at lower speeds uses more fuel than when cruising on the open road, but relative fuel consumption also tends to increase when travelling at higher speeds due to aerodynamic drag.
That said, there isn't one speed that's most fuel-efficient for every car. Fuel economy varies depending on factors including the vehicle, engine, transmission, road gradient and weather conditions.
Maintaining a steady, appropriate speed and avoiding unnecessary acceleration can help reduce fuel use. Always obey the speed limit and drive at a speed appropriate for the conditions rather than attempting to achieve a particular fuel-economy figure.
Allowing plenty of time to reach your destination can also reduce the temptation to rush and gives you time to take regular breaks to help manage fatigue.
Avoid unnecessary engine idling
An idling petrol or diesel engine continues consuming fuel even though the vehicle isn't moving.
If you're safely parked for an extended period, avoid leaving the engine running unnecessarily. Many modern vehicles also feature automatic stop-start systems designed to switch the engine off temporarily when the vehicle is stationary.
There may be situations where you need to keep the engine running, however, so consider weather conditions, passenger needs and safety.
Idling at long traffic lights or in heavy traffic can increase fuel consumption.
Does air conditioning use more fuel?
Air conditioning places an additional load on your vehicle's engine or electrical system and can affect energy consumption.
That doesn't mean you should avoid using it on a hot Australian road trip. Keeping the cabin comfortable can be important for driver concentration and passenger wellbeing. Just aim for a comfortable temperature rather than unnecessarily cooling the cabin to its lowest setting.
At lower speeds, opening the windows can be an alternative. At higher speeds, however, open windows can increase aerodynamic drag, so using the air conditioning may be more practical.
More: How to keep your car cool in summer and stay safe
Keep your car properly maintained
Before a major road trip, check that your vehicle is up to date with its scheduled servicing. Engine oil, air filters, tyres and other components can all influence how efficiently a vehicle operates.
You can check how close your service is by checking when your car's service booklet was last stamped, looking at the sticker that most mechanics place on the inside of your windscreen, or seeing if your car's service indicator light is on. Your car owner's handbook can also tell you how long your car should go between services.
You should also investigate unusual warning lights, changes in performance or unexpectedly high fuel consumption before setting off on a long journey.
More: Easy DIY car maintenance tips and safety checks
Does premium petrol improve fuel economy?
Premium unleaded petrol won't necessarily deliver better fuel economy if your vehicle isn't designed to benefit from it.
Check the owner's manual or fuel-filler flap for the minimum octane rating specified by your vehicle's manufacturer, and never use petrol with a lower octane rating than required.
If your vehicle can use multiple fuel grades, consider the overall cost rather than assuming the most expensive fuel will automatically be the most economical.
More: Petrol types explained - 91, 95, 98 and E10 differences
FAQs about saving fuel on a road trip
A full tank adds some weight to your vehicle, but repeatedly stopping to buy small amounts of fuel is unlikely to be a practical way to save money. On a road trip, having enough fuel to comfortably reach your next planned stop is more important than trying to minimise the weight of the fuel you're carrying.
Accelerate smoothly, anticipate traffic ahead and avoid unnecessary hard acceleration and braking. Where practical, planning your journey to avoid heavily congested roads and peak travel periods can also reduce the amount of time you spend idling or travelling in stop-start traffic.
To estimate your road trip fuel cost, you'll need the distance you expect to travel, your vehicle's average fuel consumption and the expected price of fuel.
For example, if your trip is 1,000km and your vehicle uses 8L/100km, you would use approximately 80 litres of fuel. If fuel costs $2 per litre, your estimated fuel cost would be $160.
Actual fuel consumption may vary depending on traffic, weather, road conditions, vehicle load and driving style.
It depends on your speed and vehicle. Opening the windows avoids using the air-conditioning system, but open windows can increase aerodynamic drag – particularly at higher speeds. On highways, using air conditioning with the windows closed may therefore be more practical than driving with the windows down solely to save fuel.
