Drive for Less: The 2026 Motorist’s Guide to Saving Money

April 2026

As the cost of living continues to rise, motorists are paying closer attention to the price of petrol and diesel. Fuel costs are now front of mind, with many of us watching prices at the pump and looking for ways to cut back. While we cannot control fuel prices, there are simple steps we can take to make each tank go further and reduce how often we need to fill up. Here are a few practical tips to help.

Regularly servicing your car — changing the air filter and oil and balancing tyres — greatly improves your vehicle's performance, leading to it using fuel more efficiently.

Using the correct oil, you can improve your car's fuel economy by 1-2 per cent. Check the car's manual for the recommended oil and use that one. 

By ensuring the proper inflation of your car's tyres, you can improve your MPG (mile per gallon) by up to 3.3 per cent. Under-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by 0.3 per cent for every 1 psi drop in pressure.

Try to accelerate and brake as smoothly as possible when driving. Being heavy-footed with the accelerator and brake pedal uses up more fuel.

Remove all unnecessary items from your car. The lighter your vehicle, the less energy and fuel are needed to move and stop it.  

Reducing drag improves your vehicle's aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency. So, if you have a roof rack or bike rack, remove it when you are not using it.

Using your car's air-con system increases the engine's work and the amount of fuel it needs to operate. Therefore, to save energy, turn off the air-con and open the windows and sunroof if your car has one. 

However, there is an exception to that rule.  

At speeds of 80 km/h and faster, using the air-con is better for fuel consumption than opening the windows. Open windows increase the drag on the car.

If you are not already keeping track of fuel prices locally, you can easily check online for up to date listings of the cheapest fuel in your area. The website pumps.ie can help you locate the cheapest petrol stations in your area, and the Waze mobile app shows fuel prices along your route. This feature allows you to plan where and when to fill up and can save you money at the pumps. 

It pays to shop around, particularly if you drive a more fuel intensive vehicle, as prices can vary by as much as 35 per cent across the country. 

Following these tips can reduce the frequency of petrol station stops and help your bank balance and the environment's health.

Yes. Driving at 120km/h uses about 25% more fuel than driving at 100km/h due to increased wind resistance. On a typical Irish motorway journey, slowing down slightly can save you roughly €3 per 100km driven.

Every 50kg of unnecessary weight in your car increases fuel consumption by about 1–2%. In 2026, clearing out heavy tools, sports gear, or old bags from your boot could save you the equivalent of one full tank of fuel over the course of a year.

This guidance is for general information purposes only. Allianz accepts no responsibility or liability for any losses that may arise from any reliance upon the information contained in this guidance.  Failure to take all reasonable care to prevent loss or damage may result in Allianz declining to cover a claim.

Information correct as at 16/04/2026