If you’re a frequent driver, chances are you’ve already witnessed some aggressive driving behaviour, such as suddenly changing lanes, swerving at high speed or not stopping at traffic lights – maybe you’ve even fallen into some of these habits yourself…

But did you know that driving sensibly is about more than being civil or staying safe? Believe it or not, getting into the right driving habits can help you save money on fuel and reduce your car maintenance costs.

At Creditplus, we’re all about helping you save your hard-earned pounds while staying safe on the road, so we’ve gathered five top tips that can help you drive more defensively and more economically. And, with Halloween fast-approaching, we thought this would be a good time for you to find out if your driving habits should earn you a trick or a treat.

Tip 1 – Take your time

Stopping your car suddenly, even under the best possible conditions, can cause your tyres to slip. Every time a tyre slips, you're losing fuel and putting yourself in danger, so deaccelerating smoothly and using engine braking appropriately will allow you to stop your car safely and cut down your fuel costs at the same time.

Tip 2 – Stick to the speed limit

It’s simple maths: the faster you go, the more fuel you use. Driving at 80mph can use up to 25% more fuel than at 70mph, so, if you stick to the speed limit, not only will you be safer and avoid a heavy fine, you’ll also be saving money in the process.

Tip 3 – Avoid dry steering

Steering your car while it’s stationary can cause serious damage to your front tyres, as you’re basically ‘tearing’ them against the rough surface of the road. It can also damage other steering components in your car by putting them under excessive strain. Avoid dry steering as much as possible to decrease your car repair costs.

Tip 4 – Shift gears appropriately

If you drive a manual car, you should shift to second gear by about 15mph, move on to third before you reach 30mph, shift to fourth by 40mph and, finally, drive in fifth gear from 40mph upwards. Those are generally considered the optimal shifting points to keep a good fuel economy and you should downshift following the same standard to avoid damaging the car engine and your finances.

Tip 5 – Keep your cool

We know how stressful and frustrating driving can be, especially if other drivers don’t seem to be respecting the rules. But it’s important to resist the urge to get ‘payback’, as getting angry is likely to make your driving more aggressive and an accident more likely. Getting back at an annoying driver is not worth the potential compensation costs you may need to cover and it certainly isn’t worth risking your life.

Now that you know what to do to drive more sensibly, it’s time to test your driving habits. Take our quiz below and find out if you deserve a trick or a treat this Halloween.

Ready to take your driving to the next level?

If you’re looking to make your driving more sensible and economical, why not give yourself a head-start with one of the many vehicles that Creditplus has available and some affordable car finance to go with it?

Check out the extensive selection of vehicles on our car search engine or apply today to finance any other vehicle of your choosing. Complete our 2-minute, no obligation application form or call our Customer Advisors on 0800 1777 290 to get started.