Diesel prices have reached a record high in the UK, with the average price of a litre soaring to 199.18p, according to figures from the RAC. The previous record of 199.09p was set in June 2022, in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The rise represents a 56.8p per litre increase since the outbreak of the US-Iran war on February 28 this year, when the average price stood at 142.38p. Diesel costs have climbed steadily over recent weeks, driven by disruptions to global supplies caused by the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as fresh hostilities across the Middle East.
What Martin Lewis says to remove from your car
Speaking previously on The Martin Lewis Money Show, the money-saving expert said drivers should try to make their cars as efficient as possible. He pointed to a car with a roof rack on it, saying: "If that's empty, get rid of it. Really inefficient. You're having to push that through the wind on a motorway as you drive."
He also advised getting rid of "junk in your trunk", explaining: "Extra weight. For every about 45kg, it makes your car 1% less fuel efficient. So we get anything out of the boot we're not using in heavy weight."
He added: "Look at those tyres, not pumped up. That can add 3% or 4% to your fuel bills when it's not more efficient, so get your tyres checked and pumped up properly."
Air conditioning and driving style
Martin also turned his attention to air conditioning, sharing what drivers need to be mindful of. He said: "When you're going at low speeds, your air con can be really quite expensive proportionately and make the car much less fuel efficient. At high speeds, if it's warm, keep it on, because opening your windows on a motorway will really add drag and make the car have to work much harder to go further."
In the clip, which was shared on Facebook, Martin pointed out that the way you drive also plays a significant role. He noted that using the accelerator and brake excessively burns through money, even though they are obviously essential.
While acknowledging that accelerating and braking are unavoidable, he stressed that good road positioning, maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and thinking further down the road allows you to "speed up more slowly, and slow down more gradually". He described this as "massively more fuel efficient", highlighting that making a few straightforward adjustments like these could help drivers slash between 10% and 30% off their petrol or diesel bills.
