How to drive down the cost of motoring as fuel prices rise

​The recent surge in oil prices is causing misery for drivers in Leicestershire as fuel costs reach an all-time high.

With unleaded petrol prices now around 132p per litre and diesel standing at 138p, drivers are hoping Chancellor George Osborne will offer some respite in next week's Budget.

But there are also lots of ways to cut the cost of fuel, as these tips from Which? Money show.

1. Ditch your car

It may seem extreme, but getting rid of your car and joining a car club such as Zipcar or Streetcar could save you up to �800 a year. Click here to see car clubs and car hire in Leicestershire.

2. Shop around for cheap petrol

It pays to shop around for cheap petrol prices - you could find a petrol station selling fuel at 20p per litre less than you would pay elsewhere.

3. Take advantage of loyalty schemes

Tesco offers 5p off per litre of fuel every time you spend �50 in store, while the Shell Drivers' Club Card gives you points per litre of petrol purchased which then translate into discount vouchers.

4. Make the most of cashback

Using a credit card that offers cashback at petrol stations can help ease the pain of rising petrol prices. MBNA have recently launched two new credit cards that do this, while a new Visa card that offers 1.25 per cent cashback.

5. Keep tyres pumped up

Driving with the wrong tyre pressure creates rolling resistance, meaning that your car burns more petrol when you're driving. It's estimated that keeping tyres pumped up can improve fuel efficiency by 10 per cent.

6. Consider a conversion

According to Which? Money, converting your car so that it runs on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) can save you a fortune. The average cost per litre of LPG is 77p - 41 per cent lower than the current unleaded price. However, it costs around �800 to �1,000 to convert your car to LPG.

7. Cut your speed - and the air con

Did you know that if you cut your speed down from 70mph to 50mph, you reduce your fuel consumption by 15 per cent? Leaving the air con off and keeping the windows closed also stops your engine from guzzling fuel.

Gallon of petrol reaches �6 mark

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