Ten Money-Saving Driving Tips
While buying a car is a big financial commitment, the cost of owning a car is not limited to your monthly payments. Gas, maintenance and repairs are additional costs that you should plan for. If you are looking for ways to cut down these costs, you have come to the right place. Let’s take a look at 10 money saving tips for car owners:
Practice Good Driving Habits
Aggressive driving wastes gas. Paying attention to the road ahead of you and gradually braking or accelerating will help you conserve fuel. Depending on the road you are traveling on, hard braking and rapid acceleration can decrease your gas mileage anywhere from 10%-40%.
Drive within the Speed Limit
Obeying the speed limit not only keeps you and other drivers safe, it can also help you reduce gas consumption. While each vehicle is different, driving over 50 mph can reduce gas mileage. A general estimate is that you pay $0.23 more for each gallon of gas for every 5 mph you drive over 50 mph. Use cruise control to set and maintain a speed that will reduce your gas consumption and save you money in the long run.
Travel Lightly
Avoid traveling with excess cargo whenever possible. The more weight your vehicle is carrying, the more fuel is required to travel. Hauling an extra 100 pounds could reduce your MPG by approximately 1%. Make sure your trunk is free of unneeded weight before hitting the road.
Decrease Wind Resistance
The more aerodynamic your vehicle is, the better fuel economy you will have. While roof cargo may be great for road trips where you need to store luggage, make sure you remove roof racks and storage when they are not in use. This will promote fuel conservation by reducing the weight and drag of your vehicle.
Don’t Leave your Engine Idling
Whenever your vehicle is not in motion for an extended period of time, turning it off will conserve fuel. Next time you are at a standstill due to road construction, an accident, a slow drive-through or sitting in a parking lot, remember that turning off your engine for 5 minutes and restarting it is cheaper than allowing your car to idle for 5 minutes.
Reduce AC Usage
On a hot day, nothing beats the cooling power of air conditioning. However, running your AC does increase fuel usage. When it is a temperate day, roll down your windows or open your sunroof rather than blasting the AC.
Keep Tabs on your Tire Pressure
If you are driving on improperly inflated tires, you are likely increasing strain on the engine, cutting into your gas mileage and wearing your tires out faster. Making sure your tires are properly inflated could save you time and money by avoiding a flat tire.
Plan your Outings
Having a plan for your outings can help you avoid unnecessary driving. Using navigation can help you stick to the shortest route and avoid traffic. When it is time to fill up, track gas prices to make sure you’re not overpaying for fuel. An app like GasBuddy is helpful to find the best deal for gas near you.
Regularly Service your Car
In order to ensure your car is running efficiently, routine maintenance is encouraged. This will increase your chances of catching any issue early before it develops into a larger, more expensive problem. A well cared for car also improves fuel economy.
Drive with Impulse
Accidents can be the most costly expense associated with driving. Aside from repair costs, medical bills to care for any injuries sustained can be expensive. Practice safe driving habits and follow all traffic laws whenever you are traveling to avoid motor vehicle crashes. You can also install Impulse to protect you and your passengers from other drivers. Impulse is the first collision alert system for the driver behind you, helping them react 50% faster during hard braking. Learn more at https://frontlane.com/Impulse/.
Our goal is to help you get from point A to point B safely, and save some money along the way. Follow these tips to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck out of your car and remember: Safety first. Always.