Drivers urged to 'switch off' button and save £260 from next month

Drivers have been warned they can save cash by turning off air conditioning. Motorists face a fuel duty increase from October, with Rachel Reeves, the Labour Party Chancellor, set to roll out a change and scrap the long-standing freeze.

Tim Rodie, a driving expert at Motorpoint, said: "Motorists looking to go longer between filling up might think just opening the windows is an obvious alternative but, at higher speeds, this can make your car less aerodynamic – meaning you’ll be using more fuel.

“As a rule, opening your windows is best when driving around at lower speeds around town and air conditioning is more efficient if you’re on the motorway. So, keep this in mind and be sure to mix it up on long car rides."

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It is generally advisable for drivers to make sure that they switch off the air conditioning at lower speeds, and especially under 50mph. “I have credible intelligence that the Treasury has virtually settled, through its internal economic modelling, on increasing fuel duty by 10p/litre,” says Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK.

“For nearly 15 years, I have proven that hiking levies on one of the highest-taxed motorist sectors in the world would damage the economy, jobs, inflation, business investment and freedom of movement.” Analysis by wealth manager Evelyn Partners shows a 10p rise in fuel duty, removing the temporary 5p cut and applying a 5p increase, together with VAT, would fill more than 25% of the £22 billion public finance gap by raising £5.5 billion per year.

The cost to a driver filling a 55 litre vehicle would be £6.60 per fill up. “With the uptake of electric vehicles, fuel duty receipts are declining and will continue to do so,” says Jayne Harrold, tax partner at Evelyn Partners.

“Addressing the looming funding gap with a new solution will be critical for the Government to keep public finances in good shape.”