Eco driving tips
Fill up less frequently and help reduce carbon emissions by improving air quality by following our eco-driving tips.
Consider alternatives
Before you grab your keys, is the journey by car necessary? For shorter trips, try to consider more sustainable modes of transport such as walking and cycling. Take a look at our cycle information and cycle maps.
Plan ahead
Remember to plan your journey and check traffic before you travel – getting lost or stuck in traffic wastes fuel. Our helpful journey planning tool could help.
Drive smoothly
Assess the road ahead as much as possible to avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, which increases the amount of fuel you use. Maintain a greater distance from the vehicle in front so that you can adapt your speed when necessary without using the brakes.
Shift up to a higher gear
Driving at lower revs reduces fuel consumption so change up a gear at around 2,000 RPM.
Switch off your engine
Many newer cars automatically turn off when stationary in neutral. If yours doesn’t, turn off your engine when you’ve stopped for a minute or so to save fuel.
Slow down
Your fuel costs will increase the faster you drive so keep speeds reasonable.
Windows vs air conditioning
It is more fuel efficient to open the windows compared to using air conditioning when driving. Air conditioning can increase your fuel consumption by as much as 5%.
Tyre pressures
Under-inflated tyres increase your fuel consumption by up to 6% and can be dangerous on the road. Check them once a month and before long journeys.
Lighten your load
Removing excess items and roof racks/boxes from your car before travelling to reduce weight and fuel consumption.
Tips when purchasing a new vehicle (new and used cars)
Vehicle choice can have a major impact on fuel costs and emission and generally, the smaller the engine size the more efficient a vehicle will be.
If your company car is up for renewal or you are thinking of replacing your car, check out our animated guide and our tips below on how to save on motoring costs.
New cars
New cars are now much more fuel-efficient, and you have a choice of different engine types: petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric.
Information on fuel consumption, emissions and running costs for new cars is available at Directgov
Used cars
Fuel efficiency in older cars varies hugely. You can compare fuel consumption, tax and emissions information for used car models at Directgov
Ultra-low emission vehicles (electric or hybrid)
Information relating to electric vehicle charging in and around Nottinghamshire can
be found on Nottinghamshire County Council's website:
