Avoid running out of fuel with these simple tips.

To give you that extra peace of mind, Cheaper Car Rentals provides free roadside assistance with every car rental so help is always at hand if you run out of fuel

Everyone has heard a story about someone who has run out of petrol at a most inconvenient time and in a most inconvenient place. In fact at some point we will probably all end up pushing a car to the side of the road because we did not fill up in time. With mobile phones in tow, we often think that help is available anywhere any time these days but if you find you are out of mobile range, what then?

When you are on holidays and driving a rental car in an unfamiliar place this situation needs to be avoided at all costs. To help you avoid unnecessary stress on your holiday, we have curated a list of tips that may seem obvious but are often forgotten:

1. All cars are fitted with a trip meter. It will take a bit of investigation to work out how to use it, but it is well worth getting acquainted with the trip meter in your rental car.  Trip meters are the best way to measure your fuel consumption. Resetting the trip meter every time you fill up will help you to understand easily how far you can get on a full tank. Remember, you will get more kilometres from a tank of fuel when doing highway driving than around town so it is important to factor different driving conditions into your calculations.
2. If you look around you car’s dashboard you will find the fuel gauge. This gauge is your next best friend after the trip meter and very beneficial in gathering information about how fast your car is consuming fuel in different driving conditions. This information is of most use if you’re running low on fuel and want to maintain maximum efficiency out of your car. We always recommend refuelling you rental car when you get down to a quarter of a tank so you can be sure you won’t run out.
3. No matter how efficiently you’re driving you will have to stop for fuel at some point. If you are driving long distances, we always recommend taking a break every 2 hours so you avoid becoming too drowsy. A good tip is to allow for your rest breaks to coincide with fuel stops and to top up when you stop.
4. Keep in mind your driving style effects your car’s fuel efficiency. If you’re low on fuel at any point in your journey, make sure you drive smoothly, at a constant speed, and avoid unnecessary braking.

To give you that extra peace of mind, Cheaper Car Rentals provides free roadside assistance with every car rental so help is always at hand if you run out of fuel.