Do you have a car? Most probably you do, since the statistics show that 92% of American households own a car. For the vast majority of us, a personal vehicle isn’t a luxury but a daily necessity for commuting, running errands, and connecting with family. That being said, you are directly impacted by gas prices, which can often feel volatile and unpredictable. This single expense can significantly affect your monthly budget and long-term financial plans. After all, this is why you are here: you want to find out how to save on gas and regain some control over this fluctuating cost.
With the right information and a little bit of planning, anyone can save on gas and, in this way, save more money at the end of the month. It’s not about making drastic sacrifices; it’s about being smarter and more strategic with your habits. There are many tips and tricks you can use to not pay the full price at the pump, and we are here to share them with you. These small, consistent changes can add up to hundreds of dollars in savings over the course of a year. Read on and find out how to save on gas. After learning these tricks, your visits to the gas station will never be the same!
1. Always pay cash
Nowadays, everybody pays cards, and this thing is promoted by everything that happens around us. The convenience of tapping a card or phone is undeniable, and we’re conditioned to reach for plastic for nearly every transaction. Indeed, using your card when paying is a lot more convenient, but sometimes paying in cash may benefit you more, especially when it comes to fuel purchases.
This is the case if you want to save on gas. Most gas stations want to do everything possible so they can save on credit card fees. These “interchange fees” are charged by credit card networks on every transaction, and they can eat into the gas station’s already thin profit margins. To make you not use your card and pay cash instead, many gas stations will offer you a discount if you decide to pay cash. This discount can range from 5 to 15 cents per gallon, which is a substantial saving.
This discount varies from gas station to gas station, but if you aim to save on gas, it is worth trying to pay cash. One app that can help you is GasBuddy. There, you can check the gas stations around and see if they offer you any discounts for paying cash. The app clearly displays both the credit and cash price, allowing you to see the exact savings before you even leave the house. This takes the guesswork out of the equation and helps you make an informed decision.
So, next time you are about to swipe your card, stop, check the app, and see if it is a better idea to pay cash. Keeping a small amount of cash in your glove compartment specifically for gas can make this habit easier to adopt. Over a year, saving ten cents on every gallon can easily add up to over $100 in savings for the average driver.
2. Save on gas and buy it at night or early in the morning
If you are wondering how you can save on gas if you refill your tank at 5 a.m., this is an answer that can be explained by the principles of physics. While it may sound like a myth, there is genuine science behind this money-saving tip, particularly in warmer climates or during the summer months. It all comes down to the density of the fuel you are purchasing.
When heated, liquids expand, and gasoline is also a liquid. Thus, when the temperatures are high, let’s say in the middle of a hot afternoon, the gasoline has a lower density. Fuel pumps measure the volume of gasoline (gallons), not its density or energy content. Therefore, when you pump a gallon of warm, expanded gasoline, you are getting slightly less fuel mass for your money. When the temperature drops, the gasoline becomes denser, meaning you get more fuel molecules in that same gallon.
This is why it might be a good idea, in case you want to save on gas, to go to the pump when the temperatures are cooler. Early morning or late at night are ideal times. While modern gas stations use underground storage tanks that are somewhat insulated from ambient temperatures, a significant heatwave can still warm the fuel. The difference might be small on a single fill-up, but as a consistent habit, it contributes to overall savings. Think of it as getting a tiny bit more fuel for free every time.
3. Find other means of transportation
We know that you have a car and want to use it. After all, this is why you’ve bought it. Generally, it is not easy to not have a car in your household, especially if you don’t live in the city. You are probably dependent on your car, and it is the only way you can have some comfort in your life regarding mobility. The goal isn’t to abandon your car, but to use it more strategically.
But every time it is possible, try not to use your car. For short trips, consider walking or biking, which not only saves gas but also offers great health benefits. If you live in the city, this is much simpler, and you can use public transportation when you think it is convenient. A monthly bus or subway pass is often far cheaper than the cost of fuel and parking for daily commutes. Consider the “last mile” solutions too, like e-scooters, which can be perfect for bridging the gap between a transit stop and your final destination.
Also, you can try to go shopping with another person and use only one car. In this way, you can split the price of the gas, and both of you will pay less. This strategy can be applied in many other contexts when you can share a car. Setting up a carpool with coworkers or with other parents for the school run is a fantastic way to cut your fuel consumption by 50% or more on those regular trips. Furthermore, practice “trip chaining”—the art of combining multiple errands into a single journey. Instead of driving home from work, then going out again for groceries, and later to the post office, plan a logical route that covers all your stops in one go. This significantly reduces the total miles driven and saves both time and fuel.
4. Watch your speed
If you drive your car faster, it will use more fuel. This is how things work, and the only thing you can do to save gas is to slow down a little bit. Aggressive driving—characterized by speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking—is a major fuel waster. It forces your engine to work much harder and burns fuel inefficiently. Besides the financial cost, it also increases wear and tear on your engine, brakes, and tires, and it is a dangerous habit!
Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory have shown that aggressive driving can reduce fuel economy in light-duty cars by 15 to 30% at highway speeds or by 10 to 40% in stop-and-go traffic. Think about what that means in practical terms. You are essentially paying a premium to get to your destination mere minutes faster, while dramatically increasing your risk of an accident.
If you add up all the numbers, you can see that, in the end, driving at high speeds will cost you anywhere between a few cents and up to $1 per gallon more in wasted gas. To combat this, practice smooth driving. Accelerate gently, maintain a steady speed by using cruise control on the highway whenever possible, and anticipate traffic flow to avoid sudden stops. Leaving a safe following distance between you and the car ahead allows you to coast and brake more gradually, which is far more fuel-efficient.
5. Go to the gas station earlier in the week
This is a tip you probably already know, but do your best and go fill up your tank on Monday or Tuesday. Experts think that this is a good strategy because, later on Thursday, the gas station will raise the price of gas. This isn’t a random occurrence; it’s based on predictable consumer behavior and market dynamics.
This happens because the weekend is right around the corner, and most people will go to the pump in preparation before going on a trip. Gas station owners and fuel companies are well aware of this spike in demand and often adjust their prices upwards on Thursdays or Fridays to maximize their profits from weekend travelers and commuters preparing for the week ahead. By Monday, demand typically drops, and prices often follow suit, creating a window of opportunity for savings.
In order to avoid price increases from the station owners, it also makes sense to fill up early in the morning. By combining this tip with the one about temperature, you can maximize your savings. The ideal strategy is to refuel on a Monday or Tuesday morning. This effect becomes even more pronounced before major travel holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or Thanksgiving. Plan ahead and fill your tank well in advance of these periods to avoid the inevitable holiday price surge.
6. Join a rewards program
Rewards programs can be a big thing when you want to save more money. In a world of loyalty cards and apps, overlooking fuel rewards is a missed opportunity. And from all the services that offer such programs, we can’t miss the gas stations. They do this too, and if you often use your car, this can help you save on gas. Major brands like Shell, BP, Exxon, and Mobil all have their own loyalty programs that offer cents-per-gallon discounts.
All of these promotions are different, and you should carefully read the fine print if you want to know everything about them and which one suits you the best. Some programs link to your grocery store purchases, allowing you to earn fuel points as you shop for food. Others offer a tiered status based on how much you fill up each month. It’s wise to sign up for the free programs at the stations you frequent most often.
For example, Costco Gas is one of the best rewards programs if you want to spend less next time you visit the pump. Costco was named the best location to buy gas in the whole country by GasBuddy. Although gas prices vary by region, Costco’s pricing in northern Virginia was $0.12 less than that of nearby stations. This does require an annual membership, so you must factor that cost in, but for many households, the savings on gas alone can justify the fee. Additionally, consider using a credit card that offers enhanced rewards or cash back on gas purchases, often ranging from 3% to 5%. You can “stack” this reward on top of the fuel station’s loyalty program discount for maximum savings.
Maybe $0.12 doesn’t sound like much, but when you are filling up often, maybe once per week, this will surely add up. A 12-cent discount on a 15-gallon tank is a saving of $1.80 every single time. Over a year, that’s nearly $100 back in your pocket from just one simple strategy.
7. Use the apps
As with any other activity, refilling your gas tank is also something that can be assisted by technology. We are not talking about something new, but instead, we are talking about how you can use a phone app to find nearby gas stations. In today’s market, brand loyalty can be expensive. The cheapest gas station isn’t always the one closest to you or the one you’ve always used.
Maybe you would say that you already know the best gas stations because you’ve been refling there forever. But you never know when one of the gas stations you usually avoid has a great discount. Prices can vary dramatically even within the same neighborhood. An app is your best tool for navigating this fluctuating landscape and finding the best real-time price.
Well, if you have an app such as GasBuddy, you will always be updated about all the promotions and discounts that are offered by the gas stations around you. Other excellent options include Waze (which integrates gas prices into its navigation), Gas Guru, and cash-back apps like GetUpside. Before you even start your car, take 30 seconds to open your preferred app. Check the prices not just near your starting point, but also along your planned route. A station that is just two minutes out of your way might offer a savings of 20 or 30 cents per gallon, which is a massive difference. If you ask us, this is the best way to save on gas—to know where to refill for the least amount of money.
8. Car maintenance
If you want to save on gas, one thing you can do is to always take care of your car. A well-maintained vehicle is an efficient vehicle. Check your gas caps, check the tire pressure, and make sure that you use the correct type of oil. Maybe these things don’t seem connected at first, but all of them affect the way your car uses fuel. Neglecting basic maintenance is like throwing away money with every mile you drive.
Incorrect oil and underinflated tires can make your automobile work harder and consume more gasoline. Specifically, underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which means your engine must burn more fuel to maintain speed. Check your tire pressure monthly (when the tires are cold) and inflate them to the PSI recommended on the sticker inside your driver’s side door jamb. Similarly, using the manufacturer-recommended viscosity of motor oil (e.g., 5W-30) ensures your engine runs with minimal friction. Also, don’t forget your engine’s air filter; a clogged filter chokes the engine of air, reducing power and fuel economy.
Another tip that might help you save on gas is to reduce idle time as much as possible. When you are stuck in traffic or you are waiting at the traffic lights, your car uses gas. A modern car can burn a surprising amount of fuel while idling—more fuel than it takes to restart the engine. If you anticipate being stopped for more than 30 seconds in a safe location (like waiting to pick someone up), it’s more efficient to turn the engine off. Finally, lighten your load. Remove unnecessary heavy items from your trunk and take off roof racks or cargo carriers when not in use. Extra weight and aerodynamic drag both force your engine to work harder and consume more fuel.
Sometimes things break, and if you need a new car fuel cap, you need to know that you can buy a new one easily from Amazon: Durable Gas Cap Replacement
You should also read: 7 Important Financial Goals to Add to Your To-Do List for the Next Year
