Petrol and diesel owners encouraged to reverse park ahead of possible rule change

Petrol and diesel owners are being encouraged to change the way they park as a possible rule change will make using the technique more important than ever. Motoring experts say drivers can save on fuel expenses by always reversing into parking bays.

Drivers can save money by reversing into a car space as manoeuvring in tight spots consumes less energy when the engine is already warm from driving. Whereas starting and moving a cold engine requires more effort and fuel, increasing costs at the pump.

This recommendation comes just in time as drivers gear up for an anticipated hike in fuel rates in the upcoming Autumn Budget, reports The Express. While the exact increase remains unconfirmed, there's speculation about a potential rise of 5p or 10p, which would further inflate the cost of refuelling.

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In light of these changes, adopting fuel-saving strategies becomes essential. The team at ReduceMyExcess advises: "If you're heading out to a car park, take the time to reverse into the space instead of simply cruising in with front bay parking."

They explain that reversing out of a spot consumes more fuel, so it's preferable to perform this action when the engine is hot. They add: "In other words, if you're not confident with reverse parking but want to save on your fuel bill, now might be the time to get a little practice in so that reversing in becomes a habit."

The scrutiny comes in the wake of recent findings by the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) suggesting that drivers might be getting overcharged at UK petrol stations.