10 Practical Ways to Save Money on Fuel in Australia
Simple, proven tips to spend less on petrol and diesel. From loyalty discounts and price comparisons to driving habits and car maintenance.
Fuel is one of those costs that feels unavoidable — but the amount you spend is more in your control than you might think. Here are 10 things that actually work.
TL;DR: The three biggest wins are comparing prices between stations (saves $5–10/fill), timing the price cycle (saves 15–25c/L), and using loyalty discounts (saves ~$100/year). Everything else adds up on top.
1. Compare prices before you fill up
This is the biggest single lever. Prices at stations within a few kilometres of each other can differ by 15–20 cents per litre. On a 50 litre fill, that's up to $10 difference just by choosing a different servo.
Use a live fuel price tool like BowserBuddy to see what's available near you right now. It takes 10 seconds and can save you real money every single week.
2. Fill up at the bottom of the price cycle
In capital cities, petrol prices follow a cycle — they spike up, then slowly drop over a week or so. Filling up at the bottom of the cycle (just before the next spike) instead of the top can save 15–25 cents per litre.
The catch is you can't always predict when the bottom is. But if prices near you look low compared to the past week, that's your signal. For a full explanation of how the cycle works, see Why petrol prices change every day.
3. Use loyalty fuel discounts
Two major loyalty programs offer fuel discounts in Australia:
- Everyday Rewards — 4 cents/litre off at EG Ampol and participating Ampol Foodary stations (requires a $30+ Woolworths shop to earn a fuel discount voucher)
- Flybuys — 4 cents/litre off at Coles Express and Reddy Express stations (requires a $30+ Coles shop to earn a fuel discount voucher)
On a 50L fill, that's $2 off every time you redeem. Over a year of weekly fills, that's roughly $100 saved — and most households are doing a $30+ grocery shop weekly anyway.
BowserBuddy lets you toggle these discounts on the map so you can see the discounted price at every eligible station — just tick the loyalty checkboxes in the filter bar.
4. Check if the drive is actually worth it
A cheaper station 15km away might look tempting, but the extra fuel you burn getting there (and back) can wipe out the saving. A 50-litre fill saving 5c/L is $2.50 — but a 30km round trip at 11L/100km burns about 3.3L, costing ~$6 in fuel.
BowserBuddy's Worth the Drive calculator does this maths for you automatically. Tap any station, and it tells you whether the saving outweighs the detour cost.
5. Don't use premium fuel unless your car needs it
Many drivers put U95 or U98 in a car that only requires U91. Check your fuel flap or owner's manual — if it says "91 RON minimum", you're paying 20–30 cents per litre extra for no benefit.
Premium fuel is only needed if the minimum RON specified is 95 or 98. If your car recommends (but doesn't require) premium, regular unleaded is fine for everyday driving.
6. Consider E10 if your car supports it
E10 (10% ethanol blend) is typically 3–5 cents per litre cheaper than U91. It has slightly less energy per litre (~3%), so your fuel economy drops a tiny bit — but the price saving usually outweighs that when the gap is 5c+ per litre.
Most cars made after 2006 can use E10. Check the fuel flap or sticker inside. For a detailed breakdown of when E10 actually saves you money, see E10 vs U91: Which fuel should you use?
7. Keep your tyres at the right pressure
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which means your engine works harder and burns more fuel. Studies show that tyres 20% below the recommended pressure increase fuel consumption by about 3%.
Check your tyre pressure at least monthly. The correct pressure is printed on a sticker inside the driver's door frame (not on the tyre sidewall — that's the maximum, not the recommended).
8. Slow down on the highway
Fuel consumption increases dramatically at higher speeds because of air resistance. Driving at 110 km/h uses roughly 15–20% more fuel than driving at 90 km/h.
You don't need to crawl — just easing off from 110 to 100 on a long trip can save several litres. On a 500km road trip, that could be $10–15.
9. Remove unnecessary weight
Every extra 50kg in your car increases fuel consumption by about 1–2%. Roof racks are worse — even an empty roof rack adds wind resistance that can increase consumption by 5–10%.
Take the roof rack off when you're not using it. Clear out the boot. That camping gear from three months ago is costing you money every time you drive.
10. Plan your trips to avoid special fuel runs
The most expensive fuel run is a special trip just for fuel. If you pass a cheap station on your commute, fill up then. If you're running errands on Saturday, check prices along your route beforehand.
The key insight is that fuel should fit into trips you're already making. The few minutes spent checking prices before you leave home pays for itself immediately.
How much can you actually save?
If you're currently filling up at random, switching to price-conscious fuelling can realistically save $10–20 per week — that's $500–1,000 a year. The biggest wins come from comparing prices (#1) and timing the cycle (#2). Loyalty discounts (#3) add a reliable $100+/year on top.
None of this requires changing your car, your commute, or your lifestyle. Just a bit of awareness before you pull into the servo.