12 Ways To Save Money On Gas

Driving can be expensive, so, understandably, you would want to find ways to save cash on gas. These 12 tips will show you how.

Look for the Cheapest Price
When you have to put gas in your car, go to a gas station that charges the lowest price per gallon. Find a gas station near you with the help of an app like GasBuddy.

Drive, Don’t Wait
After starting your car, don’t hesitate to put it in gear and drive off.  It’s unnecessary to warm up your engine if your vehicle is relatively new. Once your car is moving, it will warm up fast.

Don’t be Heavy on the Pedal
When you are out and about in your car, refrain from driving faster than needed to get to your destination in good time. Driving at 55-65mph is considered optimal for the best gas mileage. Any faster, though, and the fuel efficiency decreases rapidly (apart from the risk of getting a ticket of course). For example, driving at 85mph uses 40% more fuel than at 70mph. You also use more gas the faster you accelerate.

Buy an Electric Car
If you are ready to purchase a new car, consider buying an electric vehicle or a hybrid plug-in model. According to energy.gov, driving a vehicle that runs on electricity is half of what it costs to drive a car that runs on gas. A bonus of buying a plug-in hybrid is that when you buy one, you can apply for a tax credit. There are downsides to consider as well. Especially with electric-only models – such as shorter range, high cost of battery replacement and lack of charging stations – so be sure to factor these into a decision. If you decide to buy, your Credit Union offers very competitive rates on purchases and refinancing. We also finance recreational vehicles including: motorcycles, motorhomes/travel trailers, boats and jet skis.

Idle Less
You may well find newer cards have “stop-start” technology that automatically stops the engine and starts when you are ready to proceed again.  If not, It’s up to you!  Turn the car key to stop the engine from running and using your gas when you’re stopped in heavy traffic or held up. Do this after waiting 10 seconds. You will save money by conserving gas when you do. You will also contribute to a healthier planet by polluting the air less.

Keep Your Trunk Light
Keeping 100 pounds of junk in your trunk will cost you more gas. Remove unnecessary items from the trunk to eliminate extra fuel charges.

Keep Nothing On Your Roof
Instead of transporting items by securing them to the roof of your car, lay them on the seat or the floor. If you drive around with anything on your roof, the drag produced reduces your gas economy by as much as 8 percent when you travel through the city and by up to 25 percent when you drive fast on the expressway.

Avoid Unnecessary Air Conditioning
Unless the heat is unbearable, leaving your air conditioner off may save you money. The use of this cooling system significantly lowers the gas economy. Instead, put your air conditioner on a setting that will allow your air conditioner to work less if it needs to cool down and save money on gas.

Cut Down On Driving
Make a point of cutting out some short trips and walking or biking instead.  You’ll save on gas and get some exercise in the process. If you have errands, plan ahead so you can consolidate these into one trip, or less trips.   Once you turn off your engine and start it again to make another trip, your car has to warm up again, using much more gas.

Shop For Gas Rewards
There are several grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations that reward you with gas savings when you shop there. You accumulate points with your purchase at these stores, and the points can be redeemed for gas savings. So look for such a store near you to start saving money on gas. 

Use The Right Motor Oil
Your vehicle’s manufacturer will recommend which motor oil you should put in your car. If you use a grade of oil other than the one recommended, the result could be less gas mileage. Check the manual that came with your car for information on this.

Keep Your Car In Top Shape
Keep down the amount of gas you use by maintaining your car. Make sure your tires have the right amount of air in them at all times (too little creates unnecessary friction with road and uses up more gas) and are rotated every 5,000 miles or so. In addition, spark plugs, brakes, belts, transmission, and fluid levels should all be checked frequently. Watch for an alert from your check-engine light and take care of the problem right away.

It’s easy to save money on gas once you know how. Use these 12 tips to help you save. Keep a copy of this list handy as a reminder.