10 Tips to Save on Gasoline Costs

The cost of gas is one of the most important factors that affect our daily lives in the United States. It affects how much we spend on transportation, whether we can afford to drive to work or school, and the prices of other goods and services. 

As we’re all seeing, current world events are now causing the prices of gasoline to soar. Don’t worry! Nowell Agency is here to share some helpful hints to save on gasoline costs. With a little planning and effort, you can save money on gasoline without making major changes to your lifestyle or routine. Implement these tips and start seeing the savings add up! 

What Factors Affect the Cost of Gasoline?

We all know that the cost of gas can fluctuate greatly day to day or even hour to hour. But what factors affect gas prices Americans pay at the pump? A simplified synopsis of gasoline prices in the U.S. reveals these main factors:

• World events (for example, gas prices in 2022 are skyrocketing due to the current crisis between Ukraine and Russia)
• The cost of crude oil
• Refining costs and profits
• Costs and profits in distribution and marketing 
• Taxes
• Location
• Geopolitical issues

How to Save Money on Gasoline 2022

You’ve worked hard to select the right car, to obtain the best auto insurance policy, and you’re reliant on your road warrior to get you around town. Yet with the price of gas in the United States soaring, you’re going to need to find solutions for saving on gas costs. Fortunately, there are several steps that drivers like you can take to boost fuel efficiency and minimize gasoline expenses. Here are our top tips to help you stretch your gas budget further. 

1. Research the current gas prices in your area before you fill up. There are many websites like GasBuddy that can help you find the cheapest prices.
2. Drive safely and smoothly! Sudden starts and stops use more gasoline than gradual acceleration and deceleration. Unsafe driving habits such as speeding, hard braking, and idling can significantly reduce your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

3. Use cruise control when possible to maintain a consistent speed and use less gas.
4. Prioritize routine maintenance. Having your vehicle serviced routinely can help it run more efficiently. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for recommended maintenance intervals.  
5. Check your tires. Driving on under-inflated tires wastes fuel and can affect your vehicle’s handling and braking capabilities, increasing the risk of a blowout on the road and lowering overall fuel mileage. Check the pressure of your tires frequently and inflate them as needed.
6. Try to limit idling. If you’re going to be stopped for more than 30 seconds, turn off your engine completely instead of leaving it running.
7. Carpool or take public transportation when possible. 
8. Combine trips and reduce mileage. Instead of taking several short trips to run errands, consider combining these journeys to promote fuel efficiency and prevent your vehicle’s engine from having to warm up multiple times.
9. Avoid rush hour. Try to avoid driving during times of heavy traffic, as stop-and-go traffic eats up gasoline.
10. Give the air conditioner a break. Running your vehicle’s air conditioner can also result in the engine using extra fuel. Limit your use of the AC by turning it off for periods during your drive and parking in the shade or a garage.

An added bonus is that many of these strategies you can apply for reducing gas costs also work to cut costs on your auto insurance premium! Safe driving techniques, consistent car repair and maintenance, and limiting your mileage are some of the tried-and-true ways of reducing costs on car insurance! 

When it’s time to search for the best auto insurance company, contact Nowell Agency! We offer affordable auto insurance across the United States – call or click now for a free car insurance quote!