How to Save Money on Your Summer Road Trip: Tips for Smarter, Cheaper Driving

Make sure your tyres are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance, which means your engine has to work harder and use more fuel.

You should also check that all your lights are working properly. Driving with a broken bulb can lead to expensive driving fines and penalty points, which is a sure-fire way to ruin a holiday budget.

If you’re borrowing a vehicle for the trip, make sure it’s completely roadworthy before setting off. It’s also vital to ensure you are legally covered to drive it.

Don’t assume your annual policy’s comprehensive ‘driving other cars’ cover has you sorted. This type of cover is often only third-party, or it might not even be active on your policy at all. Getting caught out could lead to a prosecution for driving without insurance, so it’s always best to secure dedicated temporary cover when you need to get insured on someone else’s car.

4. Find the Best Fuel Stops and Charging Points

Fuel prices can fluctuate wildly depending on where you choose to fill up. Motorway service stations are notoriously expensive, so it pays to plan your fuel stops in advance.

Try to target supermarket fuel stations, which are usually much cheaper. You can use free apps like PetrolPrices or Waze to compare prices along your route and locate the cheapest forecourts nearby.

If you’re taking an electric vehicle, tools like Zap-Map are brilliant for planning your charging stops. This helps you avoid high peak-rate charges at busy motorway hubs.

6. Pitch Up with Temporary Motorhome Insurance

If you want the ultimate outdoor adventure, exploring the UK in a campervan or motorhome is hard to beat.
Data from Campstar’s rental index shows that domestic campervan rental costs in the UK have become much more competitive, dropping by 11.8% and making a motorhome escape highly accessible.

According to the Sykes Holiday Cottages Staycation Index 2026, nearly two-thirds (64%) of UK travellers are planning a multi-stay holiday this year. Because a road trip is all about visiting multiple locations in a single getaway, hitting the open road with your own set of wheels, which doubles as your accommodation, gives you the ultimate freedom to explore at your own pace.

If you’re borrowing a relative’s motorhome, sharing the driving duties on a hired camper, or even renting out your motorhome to make some extra cash, you need the right insurance in place.

With our flexible temporary motorhome insurance, you can get comprehensive cover for your adventure without any long-term commitment. It protects the vehicle owner’s no-claims bonus, letting you share the driving and focus entirely on the open road.