Drivers who have a Tesco Clubcard can get free petrol or diesel from Tesco and Esso petrol stations by taking advantage of a top Clubcard trick.

Petrol and diesel mercifully came down in price in March for the first time in almost a year, but forecourts will no doubt be busy this Bank Holiday weekend either way. The RAC says petrol has dropped in price from 136.1p to 134.1p per litre, while diesel has come down from 142.6p to 140.6p, following the reduction in wholesale oil prices, although they could and should have fallen even further.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “On one hand it’s good news prices at the pumps fell for the second straight month, but on the other it’s disappointing that retailers didn’t drop their prices further considering how low oil and wholesale prices continue to be.

"Drivers right across the UK should really be benefitting from petrol being sold at an average of nearer to 130p and 136p for diesel. For now, only those in Northern Ireland are doing so.”

But one way to crunch the cost of your fill-up is to use a Tesco Clubcard trick to get instant money off. 

Every time you shop using your Clubcard, you earn points that can be turned into money off vouchers that will be accepted at Tesco petrol stations and Esso forecourts with a Tesco Express. The vouchers will be converted at face value (so no double conversion like with travel and days out vouchers).

Tesco says about its scheme: “You can spend your Clubcard vouchers on fuel at all Tesco petrol stations at face value. 

“So, a £3 voucher could be spent on £3 of fuel. You can also spend your vouchers at Esso sites with a Tesco Express.”

You can also use points you accrued by buying petrol or diesel to get money off future fill-ups.

It added: “At a Tesco Petrol Filling Station, you can collect 1 point for every 2 litres of fuel you buy.

“For Tesco Bank customers, the number of points you collect will also depend on whether you use your Tesco Bank card to collect points for fuel, to pay for fuel, or both.

“At an Esso petrol station with a Tesco Express, you can collect 1 point for every £3 you spend on fuel.”