Ten tips to keep you on the road to economic driving.

1. Shed those Pounds.

Think Lewis Hamilton and a formula one car. It's a simple fact that the heavier your car is the more fuel is needed to move it. So spring clean the boot and get rid of all unnecessary extras you may think are essentials. Take out your golf clubs till you require them next.It's probably not difficult to leave the fuel tank as empty as you can get away with as the price of fuel is high at the moment. A full tank adds to the weight of a car.

2. Make it Sleek.

Keep drag to a minimum close windows when driving, open cabin vents to prevent drowsiness. Remove your roof box if it is not required on your journey. Take of that cycle carrier until the weekend.

3. The Cool Factor.

Air conditioning is less costly than opening windows but how cool do you need to be? Run it occasionally to keep the system healthy, but use it little and often - it can sap fuel by up to 10 percent.

4. A fuel's Search.

Of course fuel prices differ from place and you can seek out the cheapest at www. petrolprices.com. Think about how much fuel you are going to use in order to get to the station where you can save 50p. Don't be fooled by products from magic pellets to snake oil which claim to improve economy.

5. Driving force.

Think about your driving technique. As soon as you can, accelerate smoothly and gently up to a safe, appropriate (and legal) speed and select as high a gear as possible keeping the revs down to a minimum without labouring the engine.
Between short fuel burns to maintain momentum lift off the accelerator completely which shuts off the fuel supply. Never coast in neutral; idling uses more fuel than running in gear on a closed throttle. If you're not moving at all switch off.

6. Take a brake from the Brakes.

Brakes turn fuel into waste heat and should be used as little as possible (try never on Motorways). Driving up to any obstacle such as traffic lights judge your distance and start slowing down to roll to a stop. Don't just drive up and brake. Make driving an enjoyable game of economy.

7. Plan Ahead.

Taking time to plan your journey from start to finish, write a list of directions on paper, it's cheaper and lighter than a satnav, stick it to somewhere visible on the dash. Planning the journey's route can save a lot of time wasted on getting lost and it can save you fuel. Try to include free flowing routes as your car will be more economical at a steady speed.

8. Do Your Research.

Don't rush to replace a thirsty car until you've worked out the cost-benefit. You want to save money not spend it. Used values are falling so unless you are downgrading your Mercedes for a scooter it may be best to stick with your current mode of transport.

9. Is Electric The Way Forward.

Think carefully before changing and include in your thought process questions such as: what will be the resale value? How long will the batteries last? Do you need a car for short or long journeys? Can you plug it into the mains without running a cable across the pavement?

10. Supercar Superstar.

Go on, buy that Ferrari you've always wanted. Supercars are costly to repair, hard to park and burn fuel like nothing else. It's why they cover fewer miles than any other car and consume less fuel overall. It's not the ideal choice for the weekly supermarket shop or the school run so you will probably save a fortune while it sits in the garage where you can polish it to your heart's content.