How to: Save on increased fuel prices

It’s a good idea to shop around for the cheapest fuel prices. Photo: Erik McClean

Government transport subsidies are set to be removed at the end of June, meaning we will see a bump in fuel costs.

The last day of the 25 cents per litre discount on petrol (a discount on the Government’s Fuel Excise Duty), and the equivalent discount on Road User Charges, will be 30 June. By the time GST is added, reinstating the tax will add nearly 29 cents per litre to petrol prices from 1 July or soon after.

The discounts have provided some financial relief to New Zealanders for over a year. Initially, they were introduced in March 2022 in response to the fuel price spike caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and they have been extended multiple times since.

The Automobile Association has supported the discount but has advice for consumers as petrol prices rise.

“Few people will be happy about fuel prices going up, but international oil prices aren’t currently at the highs they were when the tax discount was introduced so the impact will be lower,” said AA fuel spokesman Terry Collins.

His advice for drivers is that they shouldn’t wait until the very last day of the discount to fill up.

“It’s human nature to wait until the last minute, but I’d advise people to fill up their tank at least two or three days before the 30th of June to avoid any potential queues.

“Some service stations overseas have been swamped by vehicles when a fuel discount has been coming to an end, causing long queues that spill out onto nearby roads which can create a hazard. Also, to avoid the possibility that some petrol stations might sell out if there’s a final rush in your neighbourhood, take advantage of the lower prices a day or two early.”

Once the subsidy comes off, Collins says there are still other ways people can limit the impact of higher fuel costs on their household budgets.

“For the majority needing to use a car, it’s worth shopping around for fuel. There can be big differences in fuel prices between different petrol stations in the same area. The Gaspy App shows you all your local prices. You can also make significant savings by making the most of the numerous fuel discount schemes.”

Fuel-efficient driving can save you hundreds of dollars in fuel each year so here are top tips from AutoMuse on how to keep your petrol bill down.

Accelerate Gently

The harder you accelerate the more fuel you use. In the city, you can use less fuel by gently easing onto the accelerator pedal. To be as fuel-efficient as possible, take five seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 20 kilometres per hour from a stop. Imagine an open cup of coffee on the dashboard. Don’t spill it!

Maintain A Steady Speed

When your speed dips and bursts, you use more fuel, and spend more money, than you need to. Tests have shown that varying your speed up and down between 75 and 85 km per hour every 18 seconds can increase your fuel use by 20 per cent.

Use cruise control for motorway driving, where conditions permit. Be mindful, however, that little variations in speed can actually be good when gravity does the work. Where traffic patterns help, allow your speed to drop when you travel uphill, then regain your momentum as you roll downhill.

Anticipate Traffic

Look ahead while you’re driving to see what is coming up. And keep a comfortable distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. By looking closely at what pedestrians and other cars are doing, and imagining what they’ll do next, you can keep your speed as steady as possible and use less fuel. It’s also safer to drive this way.

Avoid High Speeds

Keep to the speed limit and save on fuel! Most cars, vans, utes and SUVs are most fuel-efficient when they’re travelling between 50 and 80 km per hour. Above this speed zone, vehicles use increasingly more fuel the faster they go.

For example, at 110 km per hour, a vehicle uses about 10 per cent more fuel than at 100km per hour. On a 25-km trip, this spike in speed – and fuel consumption – would cut just two minutes from your travel time.

Coast To Decelerate

Every time you use your brakes, you waste your forward momentum. By looking ahead at how traffic is behaving, you can often see well in advance when it’s time to slow down. You will conserve fuel and save money by taking your foot off the accelerator and coasting to slow down instead of using your brakes.