How to save money on gas
Learn how to save money on gas with simple driving habits, car maintenance, and cash back and loyalty programs that add up at the pump.
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Summary
Simple driving habits, like easing off the gas and using cruise control on the highway, can meaningfully improve fuel economy.
Basic car maintenance, like keeping tires properly inflated and staying current on oil changes, helps you get more miles out of every gallon.
Cutting aerodynamic drag by removing roof racks and unneeded weight can also help fuel consumption, especially at highway speeds.
Carpooling and cutting back on air conditioning use are two easy ways to reduce how much gas you burn day to day.
Stacking gas rewards apps, station loyalty programs, and a cash back credit card can add extra fuel savings on top of your driving habits.
Gas prices can swing a lot depending on where you live and what's happening in the broader economy, and that unpredictability makes it tempting to look for ways to spend less at the pump. The good news is you don't need a new car to cut your fuel costs. Small changes to how you drive, how you maintain your car, and how you pay for gas can all add up. Learn some practical ways to save money on gas, from everyday driving habits to loyalty programs and cash back that can stretch your fuel budget further.
Adjust your driving habits
How you drive has a bigger impact on fuel economy than most people expect. Practicing efficient driving techniques can improve your gas mileage by more than 10 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's FuelEconomy.gov. That means your driving habits behind the wheel matter just as much as the car you drive.
Aggressive driving, meaning speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking, wastes gas. Driving sensibly instead of aggressively can lower your gas mileage by roughly 15 to 30 percent at highway speeds and 10 to 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic. Sticking closer to the speed limit helps too. Each 5 miles per hour you drive over 50 miles per hour is like paying an extra amount per gallon, so slowing down on the highway can add up to real fuel savings over time.
Cruise control is another easy fix. Using it on the highway helps you hold a constant speed instead of unconsciously speeding up and slowing down, which wastes fuel. Idling is worth watching too. Idling can burn a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, so if you expect to be stopped for more than a minute or so outside of traffic, it's usually more efficient to turn off the engine and restart it than to let it idle.
Keep your car properly maintained
Routine maintenance is one of the most overlooked ways to save on gas. Keeping your engine properly tuned through regular oil changes and tune-ups can improve gas mileage by an average of about 4 percent, and fixing a specific issue like a faulty sensor can improve it by far more. Staying on top of oil changes also helps your engine run efficiently for longer.
Tire pressure is another simple thing that's easy to forget. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which forces your engine to work harder and burns more fuel. Checking your tire pressure monthly and keeping tires properly inflated to the level listed on the sticker inside your driver's door (measured in PSI, or pounds per square inch) is a quick habit that protects both your gas mileage and your tires.
Aerodynamic drag and wind resistance also play a role, especially at highway speeds. A roof-top cargo box can reduce fuel economy by 2 to 17 percent, so it's worth removing roof racks and cargo carriers when you're not using them. Clearing unnecessary weight out of your trunk helps too, since a heavier car takes more fuel to move. If your vehicle has an eco mode setting, turning it on can also help by adjusting things like throttle response and climate control to favor fuel economy over performance.
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Choose the right fuel for your car
It's easy to assume that pricier gas is always better for your car, but that's usually not the case. Regular octane gas is recommended for most cars, according to the Federal Trade Commission, so check your owner's manual before paying more for premium at the pump. Unless your manufacturer specifically calls for a higher grade, regular gas will run your engine just fine and save you money over time.
Finding cheap gas nearby is easier than it used to be. Price comparison apps and station loyalty apps can show you real time gas prices at stations near you, which makes it simple to fill up at a lower price without going out of your way.
Cut back on how much you drive
The most direct way to reduce fuel consumption is to drive less in the first place. Ridesharing and other strategies that reduce vehicle miles traveled can lower fuel use and ease traffic congestion. Carpooling with even one other person on a regular commute can cut the fuel used per person roughly in half compared to driving alone, and combining several errands into one trip avoids the extra fuel a cold engine burns on multiple short trips.
Air conditioning is worth thinking about too. Running the air conditioner on a hot day increases fuel consumption, particularly in city driving. Using the flow-through ventilation setting when it's cool enough outside, or rolling down the windows at lower speeds, can reduce how often you need the air conditioning on.
Stack cash back and loyalty programs for extra fuel savings
Once your driving habits and maintenance are dialed in, rewards programs are where a lot of drivers find the easiest ongoing fuel savings. Many individual gas stations offer their own loyalty programs, and some grocery store loyalty programs let you earn cents off per gallon based on your regular grocery spending. Combining a station loyalty discount, a grocery fuel program, and a cash back credit card on the same fill-up is sometimes called stacking, and drivers who do it consistently can knock a meaningful amount off the price per gallon.
Gas rewards apps have become another popular option. These apps track nearby gas prices and offer their own discounts or cash back when you fill up at participating stations, and some let you stack their savings with a loyalty card or rewards card for even more of a discount. It's worth comparing a few apps to see which ones cover the stations you actually use.
A cash back credit card that offers rewards on gas purchases is another simple way to save. The Federal Trade Commission notes that some cards offer rebates in the range of 2 to 5 percent on gas purchases, though it's worth reading the fine print, since fees, interest rates, and benefit caps vary by card. If you're working on a personal budget or trying out different budgeting methods, gas is a good category to track, since even small savings from loyalty programs and cash back add up over a year of regular fill-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adjusting your driving habits is usually the easiest place to start. Easing off the gas pedal, avoiding hard braking, and sticking closer to the speed limit cost nothing and can noticeably improve your fuel economy right away.
Yes. Gas mileage tends to drop off once you get above about 50 miles per hour, so driving at highway speeds closer to the speed limit rather than well above it can meaningfully reduce how much fuel you use.
Underinflated tires make your engine work harder, which increases fuel consumption. Checking your tire pressure once a month and keeping your tires properly inflated to the PSI listed in your owner's manual helps protect your gas mileage.
For most vehicles, yes. Regular gas is recommended unless your owner's manual specifically calls for premium. Paying more for a higher octane your engine doesn't need won't improve performance and just adds to your fuel costs.
It can. Idling burns fuel without getting you anywhere, and it adds up if you do it often, like waiting in a parking lot or warming up your car for a long stretch. Turning off the engine instead of idling for more than a minute is usually the more fuel efficient choice.
Many drivers do see real savings from gas rewards apps, especially when they stack an app's discount with a station loyalty program or a cash back credit card. Savings vary by app and location, so it's worth comparing a few to see which ones are active at the stations near you.
It can, particularly if you choose a card that offers rewards specifically on gas purchases. Just make sure to compare fees and interest rates first, since carrying a balance can outweigh the value of the rewards.
It can. Sharing a regular commute with even one other person can cut the fuel used per person roughly in half compared to driving alone, which adds up significantly over weeks and months.
Yes, running your air conditioning increases fuel consumption, especially in city driving. Using flow-through ventilation when the weather allows it, or rolling the windows down at lower speeds, can help reduce how much you rely on the air conditioner.
Yes. Roof racks and rooftop cargo boxes increase aerodynamic drag and wind resistance, which can noticeably reduce fuel economy, particularly at highway speeds. Removing them when they're not in use helps your gas mileage.
Price comparison and gas rewards apps are usually the quickest way to spot cheap gas nearby, since many show real time prices at stations in your area before you even leave the house.