This information applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Buying heating oil can be expensive. Some companies insist that you put in a large minimum order and ask for payment up-front.

If you want to avoid big bills, getting together with other users to form an oil club can be a great way to save money on fuel costs. People who've already signed up to oil clubs have found they can save by buying larger quantities together with others.

How oil clubs work

Oil clubs are groups of people, mainly in rural areas, who combine their orders for domestic heating oil. They vary in size, from just a few members to several hundred. They can also be called oil syndicates, oil buying groups or oil co-operatives.

By getting together to buy in bulk, oil clubs can get better deals from oil distribution companies. Combining orders also means fewer delivery journeys, reducing congestion on roads. It also reduces disruption in villages, as everyone can have their oil delivered on the same day.

Find out if there is an oil club in your area in England and Wales by visiting the Citizens Advice website and entering your postcode.

If you’re already a member of an oil club, you can register it on this map.

Setting up an oil club

If there isn’t an oil club near you, you could think about setting one up. While it can be time-consuming to organise, it could save money for everyone in your community.

For more help and advice for setting up an oil club, see Setting up and running an oil club.

Monitor price changes and buy ahead

One way to save money on heating oil is to monitor how the price changes. Heating oil is often more expensive in the winter months as it is in more demand. It can be helpful to ensure your tank is topped up in the summer in order to avoid a big bill in the winter.

Other ways to save money on heating oil bills

You can also save much more money on fuel bills by using energy in an efficient way, and be warmer and healthier as a result. Grants and discount schemes are available to help make better use of your energy, such as help with insulation costs. Even if you have to meet some of the costs yourself, the savings you'll make on fuel bills can quickly repay the money you've spent on making your home warmer.

There are also various schemes and discounts available for older and vulnerable people, which can also help with energy costs.

For more help and advice on how to save money on your energy bills, see Fuel costs and saving money.

More information

For more information about using domestic heating oil see Domestic heating oil – what you need to know.

For help and advice if you’re having problems with your heating oil supplier, see Problems with your heating oil supplier.