How to Save on Gas: 8 Tips to Pay Less at the Pump

Do you have a car? Most probably you do, since the statistics show that 92% of American households own a car. That being said, you are directly impacted by gas prices. After all, this is why you are here: you want to find out how to save on gas.

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. 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. 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! 

save on gas
Photo by Pixel-Shot on Shutterstock

1. Always pay cash 

Nowadays, everybody pays cards, and this thing is promoted by everything that happens around us. Indeed, using your card when paying is a lot more convenient, but sometimes paying in cash may benefit you more.

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. 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 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. 

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. 

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.

When heated, liquids expand, and gasoline is also a liquid. Thus, when the temperatures are high, let’s say in the middle of the day, the density of the gasoline will fall. This means you will get less gas, and in the end, you will need to pay more.

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.

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.

But every time it is possible, try not to use your car. If you live in the city, this is much simpler, and you can use public transportation when you think it is convenient. 

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.

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 has an effect on fuel efficiency, and besides this, 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.

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.

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 happens because the weekend is right around the corner, and most people will go to the pump in preparation before going on a trip. This is how gas stations can make some money if you are not careful. 

In order to avoid price increases from the station owners, it also makes sense to fill up early in the morning.

6. Join a rewards program 

Rewards programs can be a big thing when you want to save more money. 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.

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.

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.

Maybe $0.12 doesn’t sound like much, but when you are filling up often, maybe once per week, this will surely add up.

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.

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.

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. If you ask us, this is the best way to save on gas—to know where to refill for the least amount of money.

save on gas
Photo by Thx4Stock on Shutterstock

8. Car maintenance

If you want to save on gas, one thing you can do is to always take care of your car. 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.

Incorrect oil and underinflated tires can make your automobile work harder and consume more gasoline. 

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. 

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

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