Motorists across the country are feeling the pinch as fuel prices hit record highs amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The government’s assurances that Australia’s fuel supply is stable has done little to stop panic-buying, with inflated prices now averaging above the $2 per litre mark for both unleaded and diesel fuel.
How to manage rising fuel prices in Australia
As we brace for impact at the bowser, experts are sharing cost and fuel-saving hacks to reduce the hit to the hip-pocket. From discount schemes to simple changes in the way you drive, here’s the best hacks that’ll prevent you from ugly crying at your local servo.
Discount schemes
There’s a bunch of discount schemes already on offer from participating supermarkets and petrol stations. Below is a rundown of the most common ones.
Supermarket discounts
Australia’s big two supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths, have long-running fuel discount schemes for shopping in their stores. Woolies’ partnership with Ampol means you get a four cent per litre discount whenever you spend $5 in an Ampol petrol station.
You’ll need to buy five bucks worth of eligible items at the Ampol store within the same transaction as your fuel to receive that discount, but you can also save at the bowser when shopping at Woolies itself.
Spending $30 at a Woolies store will earn you a four cent per litre discount at an Ampol station, but only if you’ve signed up for Woolworths’ (free) Everyday Rewards membership.
Scan that membership within 30 days of your $30 Woolies spend at an Ampol station and voila, you’ll receive the four cent per litre discount.
Coles has its own partnership with Reddy Express/Shell petrol stations. You can get 10 cents off per litre if you spend $20 in-store at a Reddy Express servo within the same transaction as your fuel.
Meanwhile, if you spend $30 at a Coles store, you’ll get a four cent per litre discount when you present the ‘shopper docket’ digitally or physically at a Reddy Express station within four weeks of the Coles haul.
One of the nifty options with the discount schemes is that they can be stacked, allowing you maximise savings. For example, combining a four cent per litre Coles shopper docket with a $20 in-store spend at Reddy Express will save you up to 14 cents per litre.
“If you purchased items at the petrol station — say if you have to get milk for home — that can also add to your discount. That’s a stacked discount,” NRMA Spokesperson Peter Khoury told PEDESTRIAN.TV.
Petrol station loyalty discounts
Beyond the supermarkets, some petrol stations have their own loyalty programs and discount schemes on offer.
Caltex, for example, will give you a six cent per litre discount when you sign up for the Ampol app. That’s only valid for your first three tank fills of up to 150 litres after first signing up, but every little bit counts!
Elsewhere, 7-Eleven has a price lock scheme where, through the app, you can search for the cheapest fuel among five nearby 7-Eleven stores and lock in that price for up to seven days. Once locked, you scan the barcode at a 7-Eleven station within the week, but the scheme is capped at 25 cent per litre discount.
Alongside the money hacks, there are ways to maximise your fuel efficiency in how you drive. “There’s a whole bunch of simple things that you can do as a driver to reduce your fuel consumption,” Khoury said.
It might seem like scraping the bottom of the (fuel) barrel, but no one is judging in this economy!
Air-con Vs windows
Both have their purpose. If you’re sweltering at high speeds over 80 kilometres per hour, it’s best to use your air-con, since wound-down windows will increase drag and add to fuel consumption. But if you’re moseying at slower speeds in suburbs or the city, put the windows down. The air-con will cost more than the minimal drag while driving like Miss Daisy.
Keep on top of car maintenance
Little mechanic hacks can make a big difference. Pumping up your tyres to the correct level, per your manufacturer’s recommendations, can save petrol. “Make sure the tyre pressure in the vehicle is where it should be because if there’s not enough pressure, it will increase drag,” Khoury explained.
He also suggested leaning your air filters if they’re blocked and getting your wheels realigned to ensure your car is in tip-top shape and will therefore run more efficiently.
Ditch the junk in the trunk
That clothes bag that’s been in your boot since October? Time to donate! The more your car weighs, the more fuel it’ll consume, so lightening the load, be it in the boot or on your roof, will save you petrol.
Don’t be a leadfoot
Hooning will never earn you cool points, not least because it increases your fuel use. Driving gently, including when breaking or accelerating at traffic lights, means your car isn’t using as much effort during a journey. “If you’re a leadfoot, you’re going to increase your fuel consumption,” Khoury said.
“Especially if you’ve got a heavy foot on the brake and accelerator. Both of those things are going to put added pressure on your engine and that’s going to increase your consumption.”
Checking routes before driving to find the freest-flowing journey will also help in this department.
Opt for other modes of transport
There are a bunch of ways to get to and fro that don’t even require a car. Public transport is always an option, and replacing even just one car commute with a train or bus ride will save you at the bowser in the long-term.
Where feasible, you can also e-bike or just plain old regular bike or to your next location. Also, walking! Heard of it?
“We’re hoping to see increases in people using public transport, cycling, walking, and cutting back on unnecessary travel behind the wheel — things we’ve seen Australians do in the past,” Khoury said.
“This will help not just reduce your fuel consumption and your fuel cost, but also take pressure off the supply chain, which is really important.”
Using a combination of these hacks will help minimise the financial dent as fuel prices soar. If all else fails, call up your parents for that last-minute lift or ask a friend to carpool to the function. Better yet, bring back a sense of whimsy on the streets and invest in a unicycle. In these distressing times, any little dopamine hit is worth it!
Lead images: Getty Images
The post Bracing Yourself At The Bowser? Here’s Some Petrol Hacks To Slash The Soaring Prices appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
