How To Save Money on Gas: 23 Ways

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Regardless of the price of gasoline where you live, you should make every effort to save at the pump.

In this article, I’m going to show you some ways to save money on gas using strategies from money expert Clark Howard and Team Clark.

Easy Ways To Save Money on Gas

Lots of people have their little tricks they use to reduce what they spend on gas. In this article, I will show you Team Clark’s favorite strategies.

For your convenience, I’ve separated these saving techniques into five categories.

Table of Contents

Ready to see how to save money at the pump? Start your engines!

Maintenance

Car maintenance by mechanic

1. Get Your Car Checked Out Regularly

It may not be the most fun item on your to-do list, but you should always get your car’s regularly scheduled maintenance done. If you don’t, it could hurt your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and engine health.

Check out our schedule for simple vehicle maintenance.

2. Keep Your Tire Pressure at the Recommended Level

Not only does keeping your tires filled with the correct amount of tire pressure keep them from deteriorating as quickly, but it also boosts your fuel economy by an average of 0.6% which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, saves you a couple of cents per gallon.

Watch our video on how to confirm the correct tire pressure for your car.

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3. Use the Right Type of Motor Oil

Similar to tire pressure, you need to know the correct kind of motor oil your vehicle takes. Using the wrong type of motor oil can lower your gas mileage by 1-2%, costing you money.

The Department of Energy also says to choose motor oil labeled as “Resource Conserving” on the API (American Petroleum Institute) performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

API (American Petroleum Institute) performance symbol.
Screenshot via api.org

Cars typically require a thin motor oil in the colder months and thicker in the hotter periods. You can find out what type of motor oil your car needs by reading the owner’s manual.

Commuting

carpooling to work

4. Combine All Your Errands

It takes a bit of effort to plan your trips to cut down on driving time, but that’s exactly what you need to do to save gas money.

Before you set off on your way, jot down a list and plan your route for maximum efficiency.

Here’s an example of a list I compiled for a busy day out of the house. Your version may be more or less the same.

LocationDistance From Home
Gym4 Miles
Home Improvement Store3.5 Miles
Grocery Store2 Miles
Cleaners0.5 Miles

If you can afford to wait, delay your trip a day or two if it means combining more trips could save you money down the road.

5. Carpool

If you can join a carpool to work, it can save you some real money as well.

Many cities have work shuttle initiatives to get people in and out of downtown areas. In Georgia, the state offers residents ways to earn rewards by joining the Georgia Commute Options, which allows commuters to find carpools and vanpools.

Don’t know what’s available in your area? Check the official website of your city or state’s transportation department.

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6. Work at Home More

Another great way to cut back on gas money is to work from home more. If your job already allows a telework arrangement, that’s great! But if not, you can always request a remote work arrangement.

Work-from-home jobs are plentiful right now.

7. Ride Public Transportation

If your job is relatively close to a bus or subway line, you might want to consider public transit as a way to save money.

Research seven-day or month-long passes to see if it makes financial sense for you to ride the bus or train to work.

Using Technology

Use gas apps to save money behind the wheel

8. Use Gas-Saving Apps To Find Cheaper Gas Stations

Make a concerted effort to explore the gas prices in your area. If you find one just a little farther down the road that’s cheaper, don’t be afraid to switch it up.

An easy way to find cheaper gas stations is to download a gas-saving app on your phone. Here are a few of the FREE gas apps out there:

“If you use an app like GasBuddy, you’re able to see right on your phone right near where you are the cheapest price for a gallon of gas,” Clark says.

9. Use GPS for Fuel-Efficient Routes

Of course, some cars these days have built-in navigation systems, but you can always use the GPS on your phone to map out more fuel-efficient routes.

Google Maps comes preloaded on many Android phones and all iPhones have Apple Maps.

Pay with cash

10. Pay With Cash

Many gas station owners charge credit card users more per gallon to make up for fees to the card issuers and other charges associated with taking plastic.

Although contactless payments have grown in popularity, you may want to pay for your gas in cash.

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GasBuddy has a “Show Cash Prices” button you can toggle to see what fuel costs with different payment methods.

Cash prices for gas
Screenshot via gasbuddy.com

Payment and Fuel Choices

11. Use the Right Credit Card

If you choose to swipe plastic at the pump, make sure you’re using a credit card with the best gas rewards.

For example, the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® offers 5% back on gas purchases (capped at $6,000 annually and excludes purchases at retailers like Costco). Even a simple 2% cash back card like the Citi® Double Cash Card offers more rewards than using a debit card.

Important: Make sure you can use credit cards responsibly by paying your balance in full every month. Credit card rewards aren’t worth adding debt to your life.

12. Fuel Up on the Right Day

Depending on which day you fuel up, you may pay more at the pump. There can be a big difference between what you pay during the week as opposed to the weekend.

Want to know more about the best time to buy gas? Read our guide on the cheapest days to fuel up your car.

13. Cut Down Your Idling Time

Do you let your car idle for a while before you take off? You may be wasting gas. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked.”

Newer engines simply don’t need as much idling time to warm up, if any, according to the Washington Post.

14. Find Top Tier Gas

One way to save money is to use Top Tier gas. What is Top-Tier Gas? It refers to the gunk-reducing detergents added to fuel to make your engine burn cleaner.

If you don’t know where to get that type of fuel, check out this list of gas stations with Top Tier gas.

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15. Avoid Premium Fuel (Unless You Need It)

If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I need to put premium gas in my vehicle?” you’re not alone. Many car owners opt for premium fuel as a way to baby their vehicle.

The truth is that experts say if premium fuel is not specifically recommended by the manufacturer, it’s a waste of money.

The owner’s manual will tell you what kind of fuel is recommended for your vehicle. Your wallet may thank you.

16. Buy Gas From Kroger

If you have a Kroger grocery store in your area, take advantage of some gas savings by signing up for a Kroger Plus card. When you scan it at checkout, you can collect fuel points which can save you money.

Read our guide on how to save on gas at Kroger.

17. Buy Gas From Costco

Your local Costco Wholesale may have gas cheaper than its competitors nearby. To buy gas there, you need to have a Costco membership or use a Costco Shop Card.

One Team Clark member says he could save more than $7 at Costco compared to getting gas at another local station.

If you’ve got the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, you can save even more by getting 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases, including gas at Costco. The 4% cash back perk applies to the first $7,000 in gas purchases per year. After that, it drops to 1% cash back.

18. Claim Gas Expenses on Your Car

If you own a business or are self-employed and use your vehicle for business, you may be able to deduct car expenses, including gas, on your tax return.

Of course, the Internal Revenue Service has strict rules about deductions, so you’ll need to do your homework to see if your individual situation qualifies.

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Practical Tips

Gas tank on empty

19. Don’t Drive With Your Tank on Empty

You want to avoid driving around on a near-empty tank. A good rule is to never let your tank get below 1/4 full because it can cause extra wear and tear on your fuel pump.

20. Watch Your Speed

If you’ve got a lead foot, you may get to your destination faster, but it will burn more fuel.

The U.S. Department of Energy says aggressive driving wastes gas and can lower your gas mileage by 15% to 30% at highway speeds.

21. Turn Off Your Air Conditioner

One simple way to save gas is to turn off your air conditioner. Because it’s powered by your motor, operating your AC reduces the amount of gas in your car.

22. Don’t Buy a Gas Guzzler

Typically, larger vehicles are not as fuel-efficient as smaller cars. To save gas, you may opt to drive a vehicle that gives you better gas mileage thus saving you money.

23. Don’t ‘Top Off’ Your Tank

And here’s one last tip: Resist the urge to “top off” your tank when you’re filling up. If your gas tank overflows, it can harm your car’s engine and lead to expensive repairs.

Final Thoughts

Going for a spin can be a lot of fun, but not if you’re leaving a trail of money behind you. Just like being behind the wheel takes strategy and clear-headedness, being conscious about saving gas money takes the same effort.

Remember that the owner’s manual is your friend when it comes to optimizing your fuel and putting the right type of gasoline into your vehicle. Also, don’t be afraid to take advantage of gas-saving apps and put to good use the practical tips listed above.

Do you have any money-saving gas tips to share? Let us know in our Clark.com Community.

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