What is hypermiling and how do you do it?

High fuel prices remain the bane of motorists’ lives in the UK but there’s a lot that you can do yourself to reduce the fuel your car uses and the bills you pay. 

Some drivers even adopt quite extreme driving habits to maximise their miles per gallon - and battery efficiency figures in EVs. Known as hypermiling, the fuel-saving techniques explored below can transform a car’s efficiency, and you don’t even have to go the whole hog to see some of the benefits.

What is hypermiling?

Hypermiling is the art of driving a car, van or motorcycle with the specific aim of maximising its fuel efficiency over the length of a journey. 

Hypermilers, the people who practice hypermiling, don’t simply set off and hope for the best. Rather, they use a combination of careful planning, vehicle maintenance and driving habits to reduce strain on their vehicle and save fuel.

How to hypermile

Hypermiling might seem like an arcane and complicated process but it doesn’t need to be. Once you understand the methods, putting basic hypermile techniques into practice is straightforward. 

Plan your route before you set off

A hypermiler will start by evaluating whether they even need to drive at all - if a 5-minute drive can be replaced by a walk or cycle, then they'll do that instead. 

If they do need to drive, then they will plan a route that will be as direct as possible but that also needs the least amount of acceleration and braking. 

They will also try to drive at a time when traffic is less busy. Hypermiling is all about maintaining momentum, and the more braking and acceleration you do up hills or in heavy traffic, the less efficient your driving is.

Keep your vehicle well maintained

A hypermiling car will be optimised to deliver the most efficiency, too. This means it will be well maintained and serviced regularly, while the tyres will be inflated to the correct pressure to ensure rolling resistance is at its most efficient. 

Any unused items in the boot will also be removed to save weight and thus improve fuel economy.

Think about your destination

When parked, a hypermiler will try and use their location to their advantage. If it's cold, then they will park their car in the direction of the sun so that the sun melts a frosted windscreen, rather than turning on their heated screen. And if it's warm, they'll park in the shade so that the car's air conditioning doesn't have to work too hard to bring the cabin temperature down.

Some hypermilers will park in optimum positions so that they don't waste fuel with unnecessary manoeuvres out of parking spaces. Usually this involves parking 'face out' so they are moving forwards immediately, while some will park on downward slopes so that they can 'coast' away using as little fuel as possible, although it's not recommended because you are not in full control of a vehicle that's coasting.

Precondition your vehicle

Many electric and hybrid cars allow you to preheat your vehicle before you set off. This process is also called preconditioning and is a way of bringing the car’s battery system up to temperature before you start driving, allowing it to perform as efficiently as possible. 

If your vehicle allows for preconditioning, you can also set the cabin’s temperature which will make those cold mornings much more comfortable. 

Consider aerodynamics and weight

Carrying excess weight is a big no-no for hypermilers. Think about what you really need in your car and get rid of the stuff that’s only in the boot because you never got around to removing it. 

This applies particularly to exterior add-ons like roof boxes and roof racks that add weight but have a bigger impact on the car’s aerodynamics. If you don;t use them regularly, it’s worth the effort of removing them. 

Air-conditioning or open windows

Linked to the issue of aero-dynamics is the question of whether it’s better to open your windows or use the air-conditioning to cool your car. The true hypermiler will keep the air-con firmly off and the windows shut but that isn’t always desirable for the less committed on a hot day. 

The general advice is that opening the windows is more efficient below about 45mph but at speeds above that the drag caused by open windows means air-con is more efficient. Of course, there are many variables here from the type of car to the level the air-con is set at.

Anticipate and plan while driving

On the move, hypermilers will drive slowly and steadily, and will use anticipation to plan their manoeuvres in advance, rather than reacting to what happens directly ahead of the car. 

Keeping speeds down boosts fuel economy considerably, although it's probably best to maintain a reasonable speed so as to not antagonise fellow road users.

Try to keep to smooth brake and throttle inputs 

Smooth inputs of the throttle and steering are used, while Driving Without Brakes (DWB) is a popular mantra with hypermilers, as they try and drive for as long as possible without touching the middle pedal. 

This means a hypermiler is more likely to be concentrating on the road ahead than the average road user, and should be less erratic, too.

Use regenerative braking where possible

Many electric and hybrid vehicles have regenerative braking systems which recapture energy lost when slowing down and use it to recharge the car's battery.

By planning ahead and strategically using regenerative braking when coming up to a junction, queueing traffic, or even travelling downhill, you can harvest some of the energy which would otherwise be wasted, boosting your range.

Choose ‘eco’ mode

It sounds obvious but many modern cars have an eco mode and it really is worth using it if you want to save fuel. It will make many of the hypermiling techniques we’ve talked about easier by doing things like adapting throttle response and gear shift points while also limiting the energy use of non-essential systems like the air-con. 

Controversial hypermiling techniques

Certain extreme and dangerous techniques have made hypermiling controversial and are not advisable under any circumstances. 

Coasting

Coasting is an issue that has made hypermilers the target of some controversy, though. Some extreme advocates of hypermiling have been known to put their car into neutral to save fuel by letting the engine idle on downhill sections, while some have reportedly turned the car off completely to save fuel (a technique known as Forced Auto Stop, or FAS). But this latter technique can be very dangerous, because turning the engine off can cut power to the servos that assist with braking and steering, and in some cases there's the risk of engaging the steering lock, too.

No driver should engage in this kind of coasting. Some modern cars feature technology that sees the engine reduce to idle as soon as the throttle is lifted, boosting efficiency in a safe, controlled manner and rendering coasting unnecessary anyway.

Drafting 

Another controversial hypermiling technique is drafting, or slipstreaming other traffic. This has its roots in Nascar racing and its fast superspeedways, where cars will line up in convoy bumper-to-bumper to help improve airflow and slice through the air. 

While Nascar racers are trying to go as fast as possible by reducing drag, hypermilers are using the disrupted airflow behind other vehicles to boost their economy – the lower air pressure behind a vehicle means the following one uses less energy to achieve the same speed.

However, in most instances this puts the hypermiler and the vehicle they are following in danger, because they will need to drive closely to the car in front to achieve their goal. They would be well within the 'two-second' golden rule set out for driving in dry conditions, which will reduce their reaction and braking time should the vehicle in front suddenly slow.

Again, responsible hypermilers frown upon this technique, and always recommend keeping a safe distance to the vehicle in front – you can save just as much fuel keeping a distance and anticipating what's going to happen by looking as far up the road as possible.

The history of hypermiling

Hypermiling gained traction in the US when petrol prices went sky-high in the early 2000s. 

With high prices at the pumps, many drivers bought fuel-saving hybrid cars, like the Toyota Prius. And soon, fans of these more efficient cars tried to make them even more efficient, by using driving techniques that helped reduce the amount of fuel used even further.

Today, hypermiling is still a popular pastime with some drivers, there are MPG marathon events and hyper milers share their greatest feats of parsimony on social media, but it's something that can also be used in regular driving to help you maximise your fuel economy, no matter what kind of vehicle you're using.

Hypermiling records

Many people take hypermiling to competitive extremes and just like land speed records there are record feats of car fuel economy. There are many categories of hypermiling records to choose from, these are some of the most impressive:

Greatest distance driven on a single tank of fuel

Diesel cars are known for fuel efficiency, so it’s not surprising that the record for the greatest distance driven on a tank of fuel is held by an oil burner.

In 2025, professional rally driver Miko Marczyk drove a stock 2.0-litre TDI Skoda Superb a total of 2,831 kilometres (1,759 miles) on a single tank.

Lowest fuel consumption - Land’s End to John O’Groats (petrol)

Modern petrol cars can be incredibly efficient, and the Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption travelling from Land’s End to John O’Groats is proof of this.

In 2017, Paul Clifton and Fergal McGrath drove a brand-new 1.3-litre Honda Jazz from the tip of England all the way to the tip of Scotland, achieving a whopping 95.336mpg or 2.963 litres per 100 km in the process.

Lowest fuel consumption from a hybrid car travelling coast to coast (USA)

In 2024 Wayne Gerdes, was awarded the Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption driving across the United States of America from west coast to east coast.

Driving a Toyota Prius LE, Gerdes achieved an efficiency figure of 2.525 litres per 100km, or 93.158 US mpg. Converted to UK mpg, that’s more than 111 miles per gallon.

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Electric car hypermiling records

The smooth driving style encouraged for hypermiling is great for eeking out efficiency in electric cars.

In 2021, the Armed Forces charity Mission Motorsport set a hypermiling EV record driving a stock Renault Zoe fitted with ENSO’s proprietary EV tyres 475.4 miles on a single charge. That equates to an efficiency figure of 9.14 miles per kilowatt hour. 

This might not sound all that impressive by today’s standards, with many EVs surpassing an official range of close to and above 500 miles, but the Zoe used at the time had a 52kWh battery and an official WLTP combined range of 245 miles.

Longest journey by an electric car on a single charge

While the record set by Mission Motorsport is very impressive, it’s a record that’s likely to be broken in the coming years, given the rapid pace of EV technological development. 

Another mark that will be targeted was set in 2025 when a Lucid Air GT was driven a total of 1,205km (748 miles) on a single charge, 245km further than its WLTP claimed range.

Top hypermiling tips for everyday driving

Hypermiling isn’t exclusively for long-distance driving as the techniques discussed below can be applied to everyday driving and help save you some money at the pumps or when you next recharge. 

• Good maintenance. Keep your car well maintained with regular servicing and keep your tyres correctly inflated.

• Remove weight. Take out any excess weight, such as tools, bags, pushchairs, etc.

• Don't drive. If you're just going to be driving five minutes down the road, can you walk or ride a bike instead? If there's a bus route near your location that goes near your destination, would that be a better option?

• Park and ride. If you're heading to a city centre, then using the local park and ride will help you save fuel. Or you could carry a folding bike in your car, so that you can park out of town and cycle the final stretch. Or let the train take the strain for the remainder of the trip.

• Plan your route. If you have to drive, plan a route that is as short and flat as possible while avoiding potential traffic congestion.

• Reduce your speed. Travelling at 60mph on the motorway will see your economy improve significantly when compared to travelling at 70mph.

• Wear lightly soled shoes. Thin soles will give you a better feel of the pedals, allowing you to be smoother when accelerating and braking.

• Anticipate the road ahead. Look as far ahead as possible and you will be able to adjust your speed accordingly to allow for traffic lights, junctions and slowing traffic.

• Be smooth. Gentle throttle inputs and smooth steering keep your car stable, allowing you to maintain its efficiency.

• DWB - Driving Without Brakes. Try to drive for as long as possible without braking. This can help you save fuel and improve your anticipation of events occurring further up the road.

• Engine off. If you do end up being stopped in traffic, turn your engine off to save fuel.

• Climate control. In warm months with the air conditioning on, use recirculated air to cool the air in the cabin, rather than cooling the air coming into the car. When it's cold, park the car into the sun so that its rays defrost the windscreen, rather than using the heated screen.

• Park smart. Find a parking space that you can drive forwards out of, saving fuel by avoiding reversing manoeuvres.

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