Drivers are being advised to make sure they remove three specific items from their cars before Wednesday.
This is when the expected hike in fuel duty looms in the upcoming Budget, scheduled for October 30, from Chancellor Rachel Reeves. In advance of this, motorists have been warned to declutter their vehicles.
This will help ensure their cars are as fuel-efficient as possible. With the newly-elected Labour Party government about to implement fresh policies, car owners are feeling the pressure to adapt in order to avoid being hit by sky-high motoring costs.
Speaking on the issue, Aidan Rushby, Founder and CEO of Carmoola, commented: “We understand the added financial strain that a hike in fuel costs could place on motorists. Whilst any rise in taxes is out of consumers’ control, we’re sharing these practical tips – some well-known, others less so – to help drivers take back some control over their car costs.”
Carmoola is advising drivers to reduce their vehicle’s weight by emptying it of any non-essential items, suggesting this small change can significantly lower fuel consumption.
Furthermore, they recommend removing unnecessary external accessories such as roof racks, tents and boxes. They are also advocating for steady driving to enhance fuel efficiency.
Meanwhile, Paul Holland, UK/ANZ Fleet managing director at Corpay, which incorporates the UK brand Allstar, has questioned if now is the right time for a fuel duty hike. Holland said: “The government is likely to end the temporary extension of the 5p fuel duty cut that was put in place by the previous Chancellor.
“While we knew this would happen at some point, the government needs to ask itself whether now is the right time. Are there no other areas it can make cuts? “.
“Ending the fuel duty cut would only save the government £2bn per year, or one-eleventh of the £22bn ‘budget black hole’. This is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the £788.59bn the UK brought in via tax receipts for the 2022/23 tax year”, Birmingham Live has reported.
Holland remarked on the profound effects of the post-Covid era and the Ukraine conflict, labelling the 5p reduction as a “small, often insufficient, but still welcome relief to all that take to the UK’s roads”. He warned: “Cutting it now will stop fleets from being able to rebuild after several difficult years, and we urge the government to rethink this reported move.”
