With fuel prices continuing to put pressure on South African households, motorists are being urged to rethink a few everyday driving habits that experts say could quietly save them thousands of rand over the course of a year.
According to Hendri Van Dyke, an independent professional consultant at My Mulah, many drivers focus only on the fuel price itself while overlooking the simple maintenance and driving changes that have the biggest impact on fuel consumption.
“People often assume saving money on petrol means driving less, but in reality a lot of fuel waste comes from things drivers don’t even notice day to day.”
“One badly inflated tyre or a clogged air filter can gradually increase fuel usage without the driver realising how much extra they’re spending each month.”
The expert said one of the easiest ways to improve fuel efficiency is by regularly checking tyre pressure, as underinflated tyres create more rolling resistance and force the engine to work harder.
“Even slightly low tyre pressure can affect fuel economy over time.”
“It may not seem like a huge difference on one trip, but over months of commuting the extra fuel usage adds up very quickly.”
Hendri also encouraged motorists to replace dirty air filters during routine servicing, explaining that restricted airflow can reduce engine efficiency and increase petrol consumption.
Keeping tyres properly inflated and maintaining clean air filters can improve fuel efficiency by up to 10% in some vehicles, particularly for drivers doing regular urban commuting.
For motorists filling up several times a month, he said loyalty and rewards programmes at major filling stations are another often-overlooked way to reduce overall fuel spend.
“A lot of South Africans are already buying petrol from the same places every week but aren’t taking advantage of the rewards systems available.”
“Depending on the bank or retailer partnership, some drivers can effectively earn back close to R1 per litre through points, cashback or discounts.”
The expert added that driving style itself plays a major role in monthly fuel costs, especially in cities where stop-start traffic is unavoidable during peak hours.
“Harsh acceleration, heavy braking and sitting in traffic for long periods all increase fuel usage significantly.”
“If drivers can plan routes slightly better, travel outside the busiest periods where possible or combine errands into one trip, the savings become noticeable surprisingly quickly.”
According to the experts, avoiding heavy stop-start traffic and driving more smoothly can reduce fuel consumption by around 15%, particularly for smaller petrol vehicles used for commuting.
He also encouraged commuters to consider lift-sharing where practical, saying splitting travel costs with just one other person can dramatically reduce monthly fuel and vehicle wear-and-tear expenses.
“Fuel is only one part of the cost of driving.”
“The more kilometres you do, the more you’re also spending on tyres, servicing and general maintenance. Sharing a commute even a few days a week can make a real financial difference.”
With many households continuing to feel pressure from rising living costs, Hendri said small savings across multiple areas often have the biggest long-term impact.
“Most people won’t suddenly save thousands overnight from one single change.”
“But when you combine smarter driving habits, basic vehicle maintenance and rewards programmes together, it can genuinely add up to several thousand rand saved across a year.”
