According to a recent poll on the Southern Highlands Petrol Watch Facebook page, which was taken by more than 160 people, 63 per cent of Highlanders preferred independent stations, while 37 per cent of people shopped with the major brands.

Southern Highlands Petrol Watch Facebook page administrator Luke Hannon said the main reason 63 per cent of voters opted to shop at independent petrol stations was price.

“A lot of people say if they fill up locally, it’s at an independent,” Mr Hannon said.

“There’s no explanation as to why the pricing is the way it is. If you go to Wollondilly, Goulburn or the South Coast [it’s cheaper].

“We always ask why we are the dearest.”

Mr Hannon said motorists filled up their cars when they were driving out of the Highlands.

“One Facebook user said she saved 47 cents a litre filling up at Costco compared to the Highlands,” he said.

“Another user said he saved $12 filling up in Goulburn.

“Some people can’t travel out of the area so they’re stuck with the prices.”

Mr Hannon said motorists that chose to fill up with the major brands were generally felt more confident with the fuel quality.

He also said loyalty programs did not make a different to motorists that shopped with the major brands.

According to the NRMA, there are several ways motorists can save on fuel and reduce their fuel consumption.

- Monitor prices with real-time petrol price apps.

- Refuel when prices are low, not when the tank is empty.

- Avoid hard acceleration and braking, and flow with the traffic to reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent.

-  Keep tyre pressure towards the top of the manufacturer’s recommended range.

- Remove roof racks and bull bars if they’re not needed. Extra weight will increase fuel consumption.

- Keep up-to-date with your services. Older cars (pre-1986) can go out of tune between services, increasing fuel consumption. Even on newer vehicles with electronic engine management, replacing a dirty air filter can decrease fuel consumption.

Visit https://www.mynrma.com.au/membership/my-nrma-app/fuel-resources/top-10-tips-to-save-fuel for more information about how to save on fuel.