More than 40% of small businesses don’t shop around when it comes to buying fuel and could potentially be spending hundreds of pounds extra per year.

The survey, compiled by TrackCompare.co.uk, also highlighted that only a fifth of businesses regularly top up at the cheaper supermarket forecourts, with the majority admitting to having no overall strategy to find the best fuel options.

According to fuel card provider Fuel Genie, small businesses could save themselves on average up to three pence per litre every time they fill up by using Tesco and Morrisons forecourts with the Fuel Genie fuel card.

Claire Alderson, sales and marketing manager at Fuel Genie said: “The survey shows that businesses are potentially pouring money down the drain simply by not shopping around.

"Although some businesses are now using a fuel card to save costs, it is still surprisingly low with only a fifth filling up regularly at supermarket forecourts even though they offer some of the best fuel savings.

“The Fuel Genie fuel card is an effective tool for businesses to save on fuel costs, and regular use of our card at Tesco and Morrisons’ forecourts has shown to result on average a three pence per litre saving, which can make a huge difference in smaller companies. In addition card holders can also benefit from the loyalty point schemes that the supermarkets offer to make their money go even further.”