How to Save Money on Gas for Your Car

With prices constantly climbing to new highs, the thought of having to refill your gas tank becomes scarier and scarier. Here are some tips that will help conserve gasoline, causing you to go to the gas station less often!

Idle less often:

--Avoid using the drive-thru services such as fast food, banking, etc. It's better to park and walk into the building.

--Enter grocery store parking lots from the rear and park far away. Trying to find close parking not only wastes time but increases your chance of idling while waiting for people to cross, for a car to leave, etc.

--If you are going to sit in your car for more than a few minutes, turn the car off and roll down the windows to keep cool.

--Learn your route to and from work, taking the route with the fewer traffic lights.

--Avoid rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon if possible.

Be a non-aggressive driver:

--Speeding uses more gas than driving the speed limit. You're more likely to have to tap the brakes then have to use gas to speed back up again.

--Coast towards stops and start slowly after being stopped.

--Always drive the speed limit or just a few miles below. You'll never feel the stress of traffic on the highway, and you'll be less tempted to accelerate only to have to brake again.

Keep your car properly maintained:

--Get frequent oil changes and tune-ups.

--Change out your air filter frequently.

--Keep your tires properly inflated and rotated.

Fill up on gas at the right time:

--Fill up when the weather is cool to help gas from evaporating. Early morning and early evening are the best times.

--Statistically, Wednesday is the best day of the week for gas prices.

--Before a holiday, be sure to fill up three days prior to avoid the spike in gas prices.

--Don't "top off" with gas. It's bad for the environment, releasing more fumes, and it is evaporated within ten minutes anyway.

Know how to use your AC:

--Going at slower speeds, roll down your window instead of using the AC. Get some fresh air instead!

--At faster speeds, such as on the highway, having your windows down creates a drag which will negate the gas saved on turning off the AC. The very best thing to do is run the AC long enough to cool your car, then switch to a regular fan to circulate the air.

Choose the right gas station:

--Many gas stations have club memberships that will save you per gallon. However, be careful that the gas they sell isn't significantly higher than their competitors.

--Check websites that inform you on where to find cheap gas prices in your area: Gas Buddy

Use your car less and less:

--When you can, walk to your errands, such as dropping the kids off at school.

--Take public transportation.

--Carpool to work. In urban areas, you get the advantage of getting to use the HOV lane, thus reducing idling time in congested parts of the freeway.

Choose a fuel-efficient car:

-- Click here to view the federal government's listing for choosing a fuel efficient car.