How does your car rate for carbon emissions?
Find out this, plus fuel economy and safety rating, just by entering your number plate on the Rightcar website.
Smooth running every day
Maintain your car’s engine and tyres so it uses fuel efficiently.
- Get your vehicle serviced regularly: Get oil and air filters changed when they’re due and keep your engine tuned.
- Check tyre pressure every month: Low tyre pressure increases fuel consumption and can speed up wear and tear on your tyres.
- Have your wheels aligned: This helps to avoid rapid and uneven wear on your tyres.
- Ask for eco tyres: Tyres with a lower rolling resistance can improve fuel economy by up to 7.5%, saving emissions and running costs.
A well maintained car can use 10-20% less fuel than an inadequately maintained one.
Get your tyre pressure right
All tyres gradually lose air. Check the pressure every month to make your tyres last longer. Your car will handle better and be safer too.
- Find your vehicle's correct tyre pressure: It's usually on a label inside the driver's door, the fuel flap or in your vehicle handbook.
- Check when your tyres are cold - so when you've travelled less than 3 km.
- It's easy at a service station: Most have a pump with a built-in gauge. Enter the correct pressure into the air pump and keep the tyre gauge pressed into the valve system until the air pump beeps.
- Check all your tyres: Don't forget the spare!
- Add extra if you're towing or carrying a full load: Check your vehicle handbook, or as a rule of thumb add 4 psi (28 kpa or 0.28 bar) to the recommended pressure.
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Tread depth
Bulges, lumps or cuts are signs that your tyre may need replacing. Although 1.5mm is the legal minimum tread depth, the grip of tyres in wet conditions reduces more rapidly once tread is below 3mm. -
Tyre pressure monitors
Many newer cars have a monitor that alerts you when tyre pressure falls below a certain level.
Be a Gen Less driver
The way you drive has an impact on your emissions, fuel consumption and the general wear and tear on your car. And of course – driving Gen Less is safer for everyone.
- Stick to the speed limit - Or even a shade below.
- Anticipate slowing by looking ahead: Take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow down gently, rather than braking hard.
- Save the air conditioning for the motorway: Open windows and use the fan when driving 50 km/h or below.
- Take out the junk: Take unnecessary items out of the car, remove roof racks/boxes and cycle racks if you're not using them.