Did you know that green driving could save you money? Here’s how

Green driving is not only good for the environment, it can be good for your wallet too. You will be using less fuel if you use your vehicle more efficiently and your car should need less maintenance work if you look after it properly, helping you save money in the long run. 

Here are some top tips on how to save money while reducing your carbon footprint:

Watch your speed

Driving between 40 miles per hour and 60 miles per hour are when your vehicles’ emissions are at their lowest, so keep within these speeds to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and use about 30% less fuel. This action will save you money as you’ll need less fuel, while also helping the environment. Around 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide would be saved each year if 5000 drivers drove at 60 miles per hour. In addition to driving at an optimal speed, switching the engine off if you’re at a standstill in heavy traffic will reduce emissions too. 

Look after your vehicle

Keeping on top of annual services, MOTs and oil change schedules will keep your vehicle running as efficiently as possible by improving its’ performance, thus reducing fuel consumption. A poorly-performing engine won’t make efficient use of fuel, which in the end will cost you more as well as being more damaging to the environment. Another example of how poor maintenance can be both financially and environmentally harmful is an incorrectly fitted fuel cap which will allow petrol to evaporate - costing you more money in fuel. 

Ensuring your tyres are properly inflated will increase the life of the tread, saving you money and reducing fuel consumption. Not only will you save fuel, but you’ll also save around 10kg of carbon dioxide every 500 miles too. 

Choose carbon neutral insurance

You could also do your bit for the environment by looking for a carbon neutral insurer which will offset your vehicles’ carbon dioxide emissions by contributing to renewable energy and green projects. Use a comparison website, like ours, to find the best deal that will not only lower your emissions, but also save you money. 

Drive sensibly

By being a better driver, you’ll keep fuel wastage to a minimum and keep your car running more efficiently, resulting in it needing less maintenance over time. You should avoid unnecessary revving or idling of the engine as this uses more fuel, whilst also avoiding harsh acceleration and braking as this uses up to 30% more fuel while causing more wear and tear on the vehicle. Finally, try to change gear as early as possible too. 

Switch to electric

With most EVs having a higher upfront cost compared to fuel-powered vehicles, it may seem like the more expensive option. However, electric vehicles (EV) don’t emit any carbon dioxide emissions and they’re inexpensive to run compared to fuel-powered alternatives. Not only is there a lower running cost, electric vehicles qualify for free car tax too. Users still need to obtain car tax when buying an EV, and renew this every 12 months, however they won't pay anything for this process. Subsequent years are also free unless the EV was over £40,000, in which case you'll need to pay tax but it will be significantly lower than a petrol or diesel car for the following five years.

EV’s are also a lot cheaper to maintain than fuel-powered cars - as most drivers appreciate, the older a car is, generally the more servicing it requires. Luckily EVs have fewer moving parts so naturally, fewer things can potentially go wrong, resulting in cheaper maintenance in the long-run. 

When it comes to charging an EV, prices vary across the UK, but the national average cost of charging an EV is around 34p per kWh (as of January 2023). Charging costs vary depending on where, when and how the vehicle is charged as well as how many miles have been driven. Another variable which impacts the charging cost is the make and model of the car. Finally it's worth noting that some supermarkets offer free EV charging while you shop, so EV drivers can take advantage of any free charging opportunities wherever they are available. Although there is an upfront cost, having an EV charger installed at home could save you up to £1500 a year. The average cost of charging on the public network is £1,838 a year versus £383* when charged at home.