15 Ways to Save on Gas With Prices at an All-Time High

If you’re finding it tough to afford the price of gas, know that you’re not alone.

Countless American households are feeling the pain of inflation due to supply chain stressors, the war in Ukraine, and other challenges outside of anyone’s control. Many people are struggling to adapt and respond to these tough economic conditions. According to a recent survey from Monmouth University, nearly one in two Americans say that they are struggling financially due to the rising price of food and gas.

The report explains that “the figure is the highest recorded by the university since it started polling people five years ago.”

Especially when it comes to gas prices, small changes can make a big dent on our wallets. To offer support, we’ve compiled fifteen ideas to help you reduce your gas costs.

Feeling the Pain at the Pump? Here Are 15 Ways You Can Save

1. Register For a Fuel Rewards Program

Gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and credit card companies all offer fuel rewards programs. There are few different options out there, including:

Cash back on gas purchases
Point accrual to spend on gas
Free gas based on card purchases

You can compare and contrast different options and can likely sign up for multiple programs. If you’re not sure whether a company offers a fuel rewards program, just ask.

2. Use an App to Compare Prices

Before you fill up your tank, take a moment to research prices. Thanks to mobile technology, you can instantly see what fuel costs are in your area and find the best place to purchase your gas. Here are three apps to consider downloading:

Gasbuddy, which uses crowdsourcing to research fuel costs
Gas Guru, which retrieves information from the Oil Price Information Service
Waze, which can actively direct you to the most cost effective gas station

These apps can help you make more informed decisions before you travel to the pump.

3. Pay With Cash

Some gas stations offer prices to customers who can pay for gas in cash vs. credit due to processing and transaction fees.

According to the Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing (NACS), “credit card processing fees at gas stations average about 2.5% of the total transaction price.” As of August 16, 2022, the national average for a gallon of gas is $3.95, according to AAA, which would make the processing fee about $0.10 per gallon.

Gas stations are often able to extend these savings to customers. Not to mention, when you use cash, you won’t get charged an interest fee.

4. Try Ridesharing

Rideshares are local carpools for commuters and distance travelers. Popular examples include Uber and Lyft. You can also find community groups using websites like Ridesharing.com and Nextdoor. The idea behind using rideshares is to save money on gas by sharing the cost with fellow riders.

5. Consider Switching Off Premium

In some situations, your vehicle may be able to run on regular gasoline without an issue. Depending on your vehicle make and model, you may be able to switch off premium gas. If you do make the switch, you can save twenty to forty cents per gallon.

Before making this decision, it’s important to check with your vehicle manufacturer to make sure using regular gas won’t cause permanent engine damage or impact your warranty.

6. Fill Up On Monday

Gas prices fluctuate throughout the week, depending on the day.

For several years, GasBuddy has been analyzing trends between gasoline prices and the day of the week. On average, Monday is when you’re likely to find the cheapest gas.

Of course, costs depend on where you live and can vary throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to the trends in your specific area. From there, you can plan your trips to the pump accordingly.

7. Mitigate Idle Time

Idling uses up to half a gallon of fuel per hour. It increases vehicle exhaust, fuel usage, and overall pollution.

Sometimes you’re forced to idle due to being stuck in traffic. If you expect to idle for more than thirty seconds, consider turning off your engine—but only if it’s safe to do so.

8. Drive Conservatively

It’s good for your wallet to obey speed limits, accelerate slowly, and break gently.

According to the United States Department of Energy, driving sensibly “can improve the fuel economy of your vehicle by 15%-30% at highway speeds and 10%-40% in stop-and-go traffic.” For motivation, consider monitoring your MPG while changing your driving habits.

Read our article How To Get Better Gas Mileage for more tips.

9. Limit Weight on Your Chassis

Vehicle weight is an important factor in fuel consumption. For example, removing an extra 100 pounds could reduce your fuel economy by one percent. Here are some ideas to reduce extra weight in your car:

Remove the back seats if you don’t use them often.
Dismount any rooftop carriers that aren’t in use.
Empty out your trunk regularly.

10. Keep Up on Your Oil Changes

Engine oil is known to be an effective and efficient way to improve fuel economy.

Next time you’re getting an oil change, be sure to ask about the best options for your vehicle. Every engine is different, and there may be new options available to help you extend your gas mileage.

Your vehicle’s manufacturer or servicing department may also have guidance.

11. Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle

In general, the most fuel efficient options are hybrid gas/electric or fully electric vehicles, so if you’re already thinking about trading in your car, purchasing a more fuel efficient vehicle may be worth considering. Depending on which state you live in, there may also be tax incentives for purchasing a fuel efficient vehicle.

Before you commit to a purchase, be sure to assess the total cost of ownership, including maintenance and insurance rates. With this perspective, you can make a more informed decision.

12. Drive Slowly

Depending on the speed limits where you are driving, you can slow down to improve your fuel efficiency. This is because fast speeds require more energy than slower speeds to cover the same distance.

Here are a few reasons why, according to an article in Wired:

Your car is pushing up against more air and wind resistance.
Your engine needs to work harder to rotate resistance.
Your tires start to deform a bit.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, every five mph that you drive over fifty mph translates into an incremental expense of $0.18 more per gallon of gas.

If you do choose to slow down, be sure you are not disrupting the flow of traffic.

13. Use Cruise Control on the Highway

Cruise control can help you become more fuel efficient by maintaining a continuous speed. According to one automobile manufacturer, using cruise control can help you save an average of 7-14% on gas.

With cruise control, you won’t need to break and accelerate quite as much, so your engine can continue running without much friction or change.

14. Check Your Tire Pressure

According to FuelEconomy.gov, you can improve your gas mileage by an average of 0.6% by keeping your tires inflated to the appropriate pressure levels. Not to mention, properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

To find your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure, check the sticker on your side door or reach out to the manufacturer.

15. Plan Your Route in Advance

Driving is about getting from point A to point B.

By planning in advance, you can plan your stops, make sure you’re taking the shortest path, and determine the best place to purchase gas so you’re less likely to wander. You can even opt to rideshare and time your trip to get ahead of traffic.

Plan your route in advance to get to your destination more efficiently, without racking up extra miles.

Save Money on Car Insurance Today With Clearcover

These tips can help you save on gas and drive safer. Don’t you think you deserve to be rewarded for better driver habits? So do we.

Clearcover’s tech-driven approach can help you maximize your savings and find the insurance plan that’s right for you. See what you can save and get a free quote today.

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