South Africans yet again face another fuel price hike – one of the highest hikes in the country’s history.

For many households, especially daily commuters, this will place additional strain on already tight budgets.

Here are some tried and tested ways to save petrol while keeping your expenses in check.

It pays to be a good driver
To save on fuel, drive slower, avoid harsh braking and acceleration, and keep your tyres correctly inflated.
According to the International Energy Agency, one of the most effective ways to reduce fuel consumption while driving is to reduce speed by at least 10km/h on highways, and slower cars mean safer roads all round.

Errand stack and work from home if you can
At a time when every litre counts, cutting back on unnecessary trips will help. If you work from home for at least part of the week, you’ll stretch out your petrol station visits.

You can also stack your errands so that you visit the shops and do admin all in the same trip.

It’s also a good idea to get up to speed on any perks or rewards and benefits surrounding your car insurance, which could help ease the burden.

Consider carpooling
For motorists who are unable to work from home or reduce their travel, carpooling can help you offset some running costs by allowing you to share rides with people travelling in the same direction as you.

While it offers several benefits, it could also impact your car insurance cover.

Before entering a carpool arrangement using your car, check the terms and conditions of your policy.

Otherwise, you run the risk of a cover shortfall or your claim being denied altogether.

Common carpool arrangements
Specific driver carpool: Passengers pay a weekly/monthly rate towards costs like petrol, parking, and maintenance.

This amount shouldn’t exceed the SARS Reimbursement Travel Allowance. In the unfortunate case of an accident, passengers would not be able to claim from the driver for bodily injury or death within the Road Accident Fund mandate.

Alternating carpool: Here everyone takes turns driving their own cars on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. When you drive, you pay.

When you ride, it’s free. No money is exchanged, and each driver is responsible for their own insurance and maintenance costs

Employer carpool: Some employers offer staff the use of company vehicles to encourage carpooling.

Employees pay a fare to cover petrol, insurance, and maintenance costs.

Inform your insurer
It’s always important to let your insurer know if anything changes in your regular driving set-up, as this can affect insurance claim excesses and payouts.

For example, if the designated driver of your car is not the regular driver listed in your insurance policy documents and is effectively using your vehicle the most, your claim may be negatively impacted due to additional excesses or premiums being applicable.

Money changing hands can also complicate things. Your insurer may view it as a commercial transaction, especially if the amount exceeds what is necessary to cover petrol, maintenance, parking, etc.

You would then potentially need business insurance or a special permit if you transport children or more than 12 people at a time.

If you’re considering a carpool, it’s also a good time to review your car insurance cover and consider whether you would like roadside assistance, tyre and rim cover, or windscreen protection.

Lowering your car insurance premium
When the petrol price goes up, rather than automatically reducing your cover, take the opportunity to review whether your insurance policy still matches your current driving habits and needs – and make tweaks to reduce it.

Bundling your home and car insurance together under one policy may save you up to 25% on your premiums.

Also, check if your insurer offers you value-added services that can save you time and money, like emergency breakdown assistance or locksmith services.

If you’re struggling to afford your insurance premium, you can adjust your cover.