5 ways to save on petrol right now
Petrol is one of many essentials that has been going up in 2022, as the cost of living soars.
Earlier this year, petrol prices rose above $2.20 at some service stations across Australia, putting a lot of pressure on households.
In response, the former Morrison federal government introduced temporary fuel excise tax to bring prices down, which ended on 28 September 2022.
This could cost people an extra 22.1 cents per litre.
But these 5 easy hacks can help make your petrol spending go further.
1. Use a fuel price app
If you've ever filled up the car and then driven past a service station 10 minutes away that has a cheaper price, you'll know it pays to shop around. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that do the legwork for you.
Depending on where you are, you could get a government app, such as the NSW Fuel Check app (I've used this one and found it not very responsive but great for highlighting the lowest prices nearby) or WA's FuelWatch.
There are also plenty of independent apps such as MotorMouth and FuelPrice Australia (free, with ads), plus some options through existing apps for brands, including NRMA and 7-Eleven.
The My 7-Eleven App even includes a Fuel Price Lock feature to find and lock-in a price for your preferred petrol at participating service stations.
It is even more important to track down the cheapest deals now that the government excise discount has ended.
Could the government's plan to slash petrol prices make things more expensive? In this Daily Mail article, Finder experts weigh in.
2. Boost your car's fuel efficiency power
Review your driving habits and adopt some small changes that use less fuel per kilometre. Common fuel hacks include:
- Winding down your windows instead of using aircon
- Switching to cruise control for longer drives
- Taking it easy on the pedals – higher speeds mean higher fuel use
- Checking your tyre pressure every month or 2
- Ditching extra weight such as roof racks when they're not in use
- Servicing the car regularly (bonus – you could ask the mechanic for fuel-saving tips specific to your car)
3. Get rewards for your petrol spending
If you have to spend money on petrol, you might as well get rewarded for it with points per $1 or for each litre you fill up. BP Rewards, Flybuys and Everyday Rewards also let you redeem points for cash off your fuel spending.
| Rewards program | Petrol or service station partner | Points earned for fuel | Fuel rewards | Other ways to save on petrol? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BP Rewards | BP service stations |
|
| Member offers via the BPme app, emails and on the website |
| Everyday Rewards |
| 1 point per $1 on fuel and other eligible spending | 2,000 Everyday Rewards points = $10 off at participating Caltex Woolworths/EG outlets | 4 cents per litre off at participating Caltex Woolworths service stations |
| Flybuys | Shell Coles Express | 1 point per $2 on fuel and other eligible spending | 2,000 Flybuys points = $10 Flybuys dollars you can use to pay for fuel at Shell Coles Express | Choose between getting 4 cents per litre off fuel or 8 points per litre with Coles supermarket docket deals |
| Velocity Frequent Flyer (My 7-Eleven app) | 7-Eleven service stations Note: You have to link your Velocity Frequent Flyer account through the My 7-Eleven app |
| No specific fuel rewards | Exclusive offers through the My 7-Eleven app and a "fuel price lock" feature |
Overall, BP Rewards offers the highest value fuel rewards with an equivalent to $5 off for every $500 you spend.
With Flybuys and Everyday Rewards, you need to spend around $2,000 before you get $10 off your petrol, or $1,900 if you chose to earn Qantas Points through BP Rewards. So you basically get half as much value from these programs compared to earning BP Points – but you would earn and use points in other ways as well (e.g. at Coles, Woolies or on Qantas flights).
Finder's Kate Browne shares more tips for saving money at the bowser with Sunrise – watch here.
4. Upgrade your car
If your car's burning through fuel, you could trade it in for one that's more efficient.
As a bit of background, every car has a different estimated level of fuel efficiency, usually shown as litres used per 100km. A car is typically seen as more fuel-efficient if it uses 5 litres per 100km (or less) according to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
To put this in perspective, there are cars that use as little as 2 litres per 100km (mostly hybrids or PHEVs), which could save you a lot on petrol in the long run.
Take it further: Ditch petrol completely with an electric vehicle (EV), which is sustainable for your wallet and the planet. Prices are typically higher, and you have to wait around 6 months for delivery as surging demand means that wait times have blown out.
5. Carpool or commute in other ways
An oldie but a goodie, this tip is all about keeping your driving to a minimum. With carpooling, you can take turns with colleagues to drive into work or with parents doing the school run, which means everyone saves on driving a few days a week.
If you're in the city or a regional area with decent public transport links, a train, bus, ferry or tram is another way to get around. Even if you have to drive to a station, it still shortens the time you're driving and using petrol.
Note: We updated this article on 28 September 2022 to reflect the end of the government's temporary fuel excise tax cut, including details of the change and a link to a related news article.
Images: Getty