Drivers hoping to save money have been urged to take the time to find and use cheaper fuel stations.

For the first time ever, the cost of filling up a family car has topped £100, with petrol and diesel prices surging.

The price surge has come alongside a devastating cost-of-living crisis, leaving many Brits panicking about their finances.

So Martin Lewis’ team at moneysavingexpert.com have revealed some of their tips for spending less on petrol.

They said one of the easiest ways to do this is to use petrolprices.com to determine which nearby petrol stations are charging the least for fuel per litre.

Doing so could end up saving you between £8 and £10 per tank, they say.

For example, the price of unleaded petrol ranged from 173.8p to 192.9p a litre within five miles of Durham last Thursday – a difference which adds up hugely when filling up.

But to be able to do this, Martin Lewis’ team explains, you will need to avoid ‘fuel emergencies’ – which means thinking about when you need to filling up to avoid being left with no choice.

Money Saving Expert staff suggest knowing good options ahead of time and heading towards a petrol station about 50 miles before your tank runs dry.

It is also worth keeping an eye out for temporary petrol discounts that some companies might offer, they say.

Signing up to a loyalty scheme at the petrol station you use most often may also be useful ‘to get a little extra back’.

Another clever way to save on petrol is to use a cashback credit card – where the bank rewards you with cashback points for spending on the card.

But, as moneysavingexpert.com followers will know, Mr Lewis’s ‘golden rule’ with credit cards is to pay the account off in full every month.

Of course, it would be easy to spend less on fuel if your car needed less of it – so it is worth considering walking or cycling some journeys.

Here are some other ways you can help your car use up less petrol:

• Keep your tyres inflated so your car doesn’t drag
• Declutter your car so it’s lighter
• Take your roof rack off
• Only use your air-conditioning when you really need it
• Only use cruise control on motorways – when the road is flat
• Accelerate gradually
• Gear up as soon as you can

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