Tips To Help You Save Money On Gas

As we all know, gas prices are not exactly cheap these days. In fact, the national average is hovering at $2.78 per gallon, with prices well over $3 in many areas of the U.S.* To give you an idea of how much that can cost a year, according to the Texas Transportation Institute, the average driver in Sacramento, California spent $685 on gas in 2003 (that compares with a $132 annual average in 1983).

While we can’t do anything about the actual price of gas, we can do something about how often we need to buy it. Here are some tips for saving money on gasoline:
Drive at Steady Speeds. Driving steadily at the speed limit can really help cut down on your vehicle's gas consumption. Stops and starts take more gas, so try to anticipate stops and traffic flow ahead of you as much as possible. Also, try to coast when possible, as revving and rapid acceleration use more gas. Driving your car too fast can really cost you, both with regard to gas and the speeding ticket you might receive! Experts say that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like adding an additional ten to twenty cents to each gallon of gas you buy.

Keep Your Engine Tuned. Not only do regular tune-ups prevent unwanted breakdowns, they also help you save money on gas. Some mechanics estimate that a poorly tuned engine can use up to 50 percent more gas than one that is running well. This includes remembering to change your oil and air filters every 3,000 miles (or as often as recommended in your vehicle’s owner’s manual). The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to 10 percent in gas mileage by replacing a faulty air filter.

Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated. The proper inflation for your tires should be specified in your owner's manual. If your tires are under-inflated, your vehicle will consume more gas when you drive. The U.S. Department of Energy says that drivers can save an average of 3.3 percent by keeping their tires properly inflated.

Try to Minimize Your Driving. Try to plan one long trip instead of several short trips (this includes combining errands when possible). If you can, try to carpool, use alternate forms of transportation (buses, trains, subways) or ride your bike or walk if your destination is nearby and you can spare the time. These are obvious ways to save gas, and they have the additional benefit of helping to spare the environment. You can also try to stagger your work hours so that you are not driving in prime traffic times.

Consider Buying a Smaller, More Fuel Efficient Car. Smaller cars are not only often less expensive to purchase and cheaper to insure, but they also use less gas (because they are lighter). Also, cars with automatic transmissions get an average of 5 miles per gallon less than manual transmissions, and six-cylinder engines get about 4-5 miles per gallon less than four-cylinder engines.

Cut Down on the A/C and Extra Baggage. While on the highway, closed windows decrease air resistance, but when you are driving on city streets and in stop-and-go traffic, it might be a good idea to open the windows rather than run the air conditioner (air conditioners run on gas). Also, cut down on the amount of junk you keep in your car (and in roof racks). Extra weight equals extra gas.

With these tips, you can save money on gasoline, and reduce your out of pocket expenses. Want another way to cut the costs you spend on your car? Shop around for auto insurance and see how much you can save! InsWeb’s online insurance marketplace makes comparing auto insurance quotes quick and easy.