Why shopping around for cheaper petrol could be a waste of time and money
SHOPPING around for cheaper petrol could be a waste of time and money, according to a price comparison website. Gocompare reckons millions of drivers could be unwittingly wasting their time trying to find cheaper fuel.
In new research released today, based on a survey of 2,000 drivers, it found:
3.5 million motorists will drive up to ten miles out of their way to save 5p a litre
Another 2.5 million motorists will drive 20 miles or more out of their way to save 5p a litre
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE - Medium Cod, Chips & Mushy Peas at...
View details
Simply Purchase a Medium Cod, Chips and Mushy Peas and receive another portion for FREE.
Sustainable Cod, Fresh Cut Chips & Proper Mushy Peas.
Visit Our Website for more information and offers
Terms: Offer valid only with this Voucher, 1 voucher Per Customer. Not for use with any other offer, Not transferable to other menu items
Contact: 01752 421044
Valid until: Thursday, June 27 2013
However, even in a Ford Focus 1.6, driving just nine extra miles could cancel out any potential saving.
The website says confusion around "mile per litre" fuel consumption could be to blame with only 13 per cent of drivers knowing their car's mile per litre fuel consumption.
Other findings in the research are:
UK drivers spend an average of £38.81 every time they refuel
A 5p a litre saving on the average refuel figure could amount to just £1.40 in total on an average petrol top-up, and £1.34 for diesel.
Researchers estimated the maximum distances motorists could drive before cancelling out the benefit of a 5p per litre saving on petrol or diesel when refuelling with an average top-up.
For example, at current AA average fuel prices (137.9p per litre petrol and 144.8p per litre diesel) driving a petrol engine car with an average combined fuel efficiency of around 45mpg for more than an extra ten miles cancels out the benefit of a 5p per litre saving on an average £38.81 top-up.
None of the figures take into account the additional time it takes and the extra wear and tear on a vehicle and its tyres, said Gocompare.
Comments