1) Plan your route
Either use a road map or if you are in the Automobile Association go to http://www.theaa.com/travel/index.jsp to get a route plan, which will take the most direct route to your destination. If you can go off peak and avoid sitting in traffic jams doing zero miles per gallon.

2) Get your vehicle serviced regularly
This helps maintain efficient running and good economy. Vehicles that are not serviced regularly are inefficient and this can reduce fuel economy by ten per cent or more. Catalytic converters are environmentally friendly but they require regular maintenance.

3) Check your air filter
A clean air filter is the key to good fuel economy. A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy. Air filters are easy to check and change. If you remove the filter and hold it up to the sun and you can’t see light coming through it, you need a new one. Consider a “permanent” filter which is cleaned rather than changed; they are much less restrictive than throwaway paper filters, plus they’re better for the environment.

4) Check your tire pressure
Under-inflated tires are one of the most commonly ignored causes of low MPG. Buy a reliable tire gauge, check your tires when they are cold (driving the car warms up the tires and the air inside them, increasing the pressure), and keep them properly inflated. Use the inflation pressures shown in the owner’s manual or on the data plate in the driver’s doorjamb.

5) Slow down/switch off
As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. Driving at an appropriate speed reduces CO2. 
Speed limits are the maximum lawful speeds that may be driven in ideal circumstances. Drivers should never exceed the speed limit. Staying at or within the speed limit increases driver safety. It also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money on your petrol costs. At 70mph you could be using up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15% more fuel than at 50mph. Less stopping and starting means less CO2
Every time you stop then start again in a traffic queue, the engine uses more fuel and therefore produces more CO2. Keep an eye on the traffic ahead and slow down early by gently lifting your foot off the accelerator while keeping the car in gear. In this way, the traffic may have started moving again by the time you approach the vehicle in front, so you can then change gear and be on your way. If you’re likely to be at a standstill for more than 3 minutes, simply switch off the engine because idling is wasting fuel and adding to CO2 emissions. Also over revving accelerates emissions and modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they are switched on, so revving up like a Formula 1 car in pole position only wastes fuel and increases engine wear and costs you money.

6) Do what the lorries do In bad traffic jams
Cars seem to constantly speed up and slow down, while lorries tend to coast along at the same leisurely pace. A constant speed is important to those who have to keep changing up and down those ten-speed truck transmissions—but it also aids economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving. Using your gears wisely by changing up a gear a little earlier can also reduce revs. If you drive a diesel car try changing up a gear when the rev counter reaches 2000rpm. If driving a petrol car change up at 2500rpm. Remember rolling with the big lorries and trucks saves fuel and aggravation and relieves stress.

7) Accelerate with care Racing starts are an obvious fuel-waster
But that doesn’t mean you should crawl away from every light. If you drive an automatic, accelerate moderately so the transmission can shift up into the higher gears. Stick-shifters should shift early to keep the revs down, but downshift if you need to accelerate. Keep an eye well down the road for potential slowdowns. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake right away, that’s wasted fuel.

8) Get back to nature
When its hot outside shut off the air conditioner, if you have one and open the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be a bit warmer, but at lower speeds you’ll save fuel. However at higher speeds the air conditioner may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof.

9) Trendy is not good
New wheels and wide tires may look cool, and they can certainly improve road handling. But if they are wider than the stock tires, chances are they’ll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy.

10) Clean out your car
The more weight your car has to carry, the more gas it needs to do the work. If you’re the type who takes a leisurely attitude towards car cleanliness periodically go through your car and see what can be thrown out or brought into the house. It doesn’t take much to acquire an extra 40 or 50 lbs. of stuff.

11) Out with the old, in with the new
When you are about to purchase a new car ask yourself do I really need six seats for a family of four? Could I make do with a smaller boot if I only use the car for shopping? When you’ve decided on the type of car check out the different makes, models and engine options. It also used to be said if you want the best fuel economy you should buy a car with a manual transmission but that’s no longer true because many automatics get similar or better fuel economy than their manual counterparts. Most models now offer a range of engines that vary in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. Petrol and diesel engines have different effects on the environment. Engines powered by diesel generally produce less CO2 but more air quality pollutant emissions than their petrol counterparts. But which one should you choose? If most of the driving you do is long distance or motorway driving then consider a diesel engine for fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions but if you spend more time in town, where air quality is a greater consideration, then a petrol engine may be better suited. Most new cars in a car showroom have a colour-coded fuel efficiency rating like fridges and washing machines. The coding is from band A to band G, with bands A and B representing cars that emit the least CO2, as well as having lower car tax. The lower the emission band, the lower the tax you’ll pay. The label is also a guide to the running costs you can expect for that car over 12,000 miles so you can compare how much different cars cost to run. Ask your car sales staff about the efficiency and environmental performance of your chosen car and the helpful extras available. For example, ‘particulates’ are emissions released when fuel is burned that are harmful to local air quality. But on some cars an optional extra called a DPF (diesel particulate filter) can be fitted to reduce these emissions from diesel engines. As petrol cars produce fewer particulates, filters are not generally needed for petrol engines.

12) Final Tip don’t drive
If you can avoid driving to the local shop, why not walk or go on your bike instead, you’ll save money on fuel and its good for your health. For longer journeys go on the bus, coach or the train. And before you get in your car, always ask yourself: “Is this trip really necessary?”