The comparison site’s ‘Focus on Fuel’ report found that nearly 43 per cent of motorists would drive out of their way to save just 1p per litre when filling up at the pump.

Driving these extra miles means motorists could be overspending by almost £528m a month. This equates to £303m for petrol drivers, and £225m for diesel drivers – or £11 per petrol driver, and £16 per diesel driver.

The report also identified the ‘tipping point’ at which driving extra miles means wasted money. If a motorist goes more than two miles out of their way for a 1p per litre saving, this journey is pointless. The benefit of saving 2p per litre is cancelled out by the fuel used by driving more than four miles. On the flip side, driving just one mile to pay 5p per litre less on fuel delivers a saving of £2.32 when filling a 50 litre tank.

The study also found that 82 per cent of motorists have adopted measures to curb fuel usage, such as avoiding harsh braking (52 per cent), trying not to rapidly accelerate (39 per cent) and not driving too fast (35 per cent).

Some 17 per cent actively chose a car with fuel efficiency credentials, e.g. stop start technology. When it comes to making their vehicles more fuel efficient, 60 per cent of drivers kept their tyres at the right pressure, and 57 per cent made sure their vehicle was serviced regularly.

Dan Plant, consumer expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “It’s no surprise cash strapped motorists are seeking out cheaper petrol prices, especially at a time when prices are finally falling at some stations. Yet while driving out of your way for cheaper fuel might seem like a simple way of cutting costs, the reality is that it can be a false economy.”

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