We’ve searched high and low for how to save money on gas for our family, and know this problem is high on your list too!
From finding a gas station with the cheapest gas price to keeping your car properly maintained to getting the best gas mileage, a little can go a long way in saving money on gas.
Read on for some helpful advice on saving more money on gas and keeping more cash in your pocket next time you hit the open road.
App Quick Picks: How to Save Money on Gas
We’ve got something on our list to give you ideas for how to save on gas, but here are our top picks of apps that can find you savings and provide you with some extra money for gas and more:
Savings At The Pump
Let’s start with direct savings you can get at the pump:
1. Upside App
The Upside app is worth checking out if you’re looking for ways to save money at the gas pump.
The app offers cash back rewards at participating gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores, which means you can save money on gas just by using the app when you fill up your gas tank.
Upside is free to download and use. You simply link the app to your credit card to automatically track your gas purchases and earn cash back rewards.
Earn on what you need, spend on what you love. Earn on every gas fill-up, grocery store visit, and more!
Use Code: SAVVY25 for $0.25 sign up bonus.
2. Find Cheap Gas
Want to know a trick so you don’t waste gas driving around looking for the cheapest gas stations?
GasGuru is a popular app that shows real-time gas prices so that you can find the best deal. It has a map feature so you can easily find the cheapest gas station near you.
Waze is a navigation app that can also help you save money. Gas prices can vary all over town, and Waze uses real-time data to show you a cheap gas price on/near your route.
3. Early Bird Fill Ups
GasBuddy says the perfect time to fill up is on Monday, when the average price is typically at its lowest for the week.
Of course, gas prices vary widely from one gas station to the next, so it’s always worth checking a gas app before heading to the pump.
4. Rewards Credit Card
A rewards credit card can come in handy when you spend money on gas. Some credit card companies offer cash back percentages for gas purchases.
When looking for a gas credit card to use at a gas station, you want to see what card offers the most cash back (sometimes 2% – 5%!) and try to avoid cards with annual memberships.
Membership fees can be worth it if you’d get that money back in cash back, but shop smart when picking a credit card.
5. Join Fuel Rewards Programs
Fuel rewards programs are another great way to save money when buying gas. You can receive gas discounts at participating gas stations.
Plus, many programs offer other perks besides saving on fuel costs, such as cash back or points that can be redeemed for merchandise or services.
6. Get Free Gift Cards
Gas gift cards can help take the sting out of gas prices, and surveys are our go-to for getting free gift cards.
Survey sites give you points for completing surveys and other activities, and you can often redeem those points or rewards for gas gift cards (and more!).
Some of our favorite survey sites are:
7. Use Cash For Discounts
Have you ever noticed that the price of gas seems higher when you pay with a credit or debit card? That’s because there are fees associated with processing those payments.
Some gas stations will offer a small cash payment discount, so it’s worth buying your gas with cold hard cash.
However, if you get cash back on your card, figure out which gets you more money in the end: saving with cash or cash back with cards!
8. Skip Premium If You Don’t Need It
Unless your car owner’s manual specifically requires premium gas, you may not see better gas mileage from using it- so why buy?
You may even notice a decrease in performance, so ask your mechanic if premium gas improves your fuel economy or wrecks your gas tank.
Savings With Car Usage
Besides spending less money directly at the gas station, the way you use your car can make your tank last longer between pit stops.
9. Use Cruise Control
When cruise control is engaged, your car will maintain a consistent speed, which can help to improve your gas mileage.
Also, cruise control can help you avoid sudden stops and starts, reducing fuel consumption. Of course, cruise control is not a magic bullet to save on gas, but it can be a helpful tool if used wisely.
If you know there’s a long stretch of road ahead with no stop signs or traffic lights, make it one of your driving habits to use cruise control to avoid wasting gas.
10. Plan Around Traffic
Anyone who’s ever been stuck in stop-and-go traffic knows that it’s not only frustrating but it can also be a waste of gas and time. If you’re trying to save gas, you need to do everything you can to avoid stop-and-go traffic.
One way to do this is to plan your route and avoid areas where stop-and-go traffic is likely to occur. You can also use a GPS to find the most fuel-efficient route to your destination.
11. Don’t Use Your AC/Heater
Riding down the highway with the windows down and the radio turned up may feel great, but the wind resistance may create an aerodynamic drag on the car and cause it to use more fuel.
A good solution is to lower your car windows if driving at lower speeds. If you are driving on a roadway at speeds above 30 miles per hour, it is better to use your car’s air conditioning.
Another way to avoid using your car’s air conditioning or heater is to dress for the weather. If it’s cold outside, dress in layers to stay warm without turning on the heat. Similarly, if it’s hot outside, dress in light clothing and avoid using the air conditioner if possible.
12. Check Your Tires
Under-inflated tires are less fuel-efficient, so you can increase fuel efficiency and save on gas by keeping your tires inflated to the proper level.
You can find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle in the owner’s manual, and most stations have an air pump that you can use to inflate your tires if needed.
If your tires aren’t cutting it, you can sell them or donate them online and replace them with a better pair.
13. Have Less Idle Time
One of the best ways to get fuel savings is to have less idle time. When your car is idling, it’s using more gas than it needs to. Idling can use up to a half gallon of fuel depending on your car’s engine size and air conditioner use.
So, if you can reduce the time your car spends idling, you’ll see a significant improvement in your fuel economy.
14. Watch Your Speed
Many people don’t realize how much their driving habits can reduce fuel efficiency. The faster highway speeds you drive, the more fuel your car will use.
Driving the speed limit is safer, but maintaining a steady speed generally reduces fuel consumption.
Similarly, starting and stopping frequently can also reduce your mileage, so again a steady speed and gradual breaking will save money on gas.
15. Get Motor Oil Changes On-Time
Regularly changing your motor oil is one of the most important things you can do to keep your car running well.
The right motor oil can help your engine run more efficiently, which means better gas mileage. In addition, a clean air filter can also help improve your gas mileage.
And if you keep an eye on your check engine light, you can avoid costly repairs down the road. Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your car running smoothly and saving money at the pump.
16. Avoid A Low Tank
Driving around with a low tank of gas is not only stressful, but it can also be expensive. When the tank is low, the pump has to work harder to move the gas, leading to higher fuel consumption.
In addition, dirt and debris are more likely to get into the fuel system when the tank is low, which can clog injectors and cause engine problems.
17. Check Your Gas Cap
If your car’s gas cap is loose or missing, be sure to replace it as soon as possible, because believe it or not, it can cause your car to lose gas.
In fact, it’s estimated that a loose gas cap can cause you to lose up to 30 gallons of gasoline per year.
Other Tips For Savings
There’s no doubt that gas prices can take a toll on your wallet, but there are even more ways to mitigate the cost of filling up your tank.
Now that we’ve talked about cash back/gas savings and car efficiency to save more money on gas, let’s talk about other general savings that can go the extra mile.
18. Buy Fuel-Efficient Cars
If you’re in the market for a new car, consider choosing a fuel-efficient option as they have become more affordable and can save you at the gas station!
These days, there are plenty of options for an electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid, and even some traditional gasoline cars that are more fuel-efficient and save you money on gas.
19. Carpool With Others
One of the best ways to save gas is to carpool with others. When you share a ride with someone, you can split the cost of gas between you.
You can use driving apps like Uber or Lyft to carpool with others and save money on your commute.
Besides carpooling with people, you can deliver people or food using gig apps to make money while you run errands for yourself.
20. Have A Lighter Load
We don’t think about it often, but the more weight your car has to carry, the more it will reduce the fuel economy.
According to the EPA, every 100 pounds of excess weight in a vehicle can result in a 1% – 2% decrease in fuel economy. That may not sound like much, but it can add up quickly- especially if you’re carrying around 500 pounds or more of excess vehicle weight!
Here are some simple ways to reduce the amount of weight in your vehicle and improve fuel economy:
- Clear out any excess clutter from your trunk or backseat.
- Ditch any sports equipment or other gear that you don’t need regularly.
- Remove the roof rack to increase the vehicle’s wind resistance.
21. Park At A Distance
Not only does driving around looking for a parking spot feel frustrating, but it can also be a waste of gas.
A straightforward way to do this is to park at a distance wherever you are. Walking may take a few extra minutes, but it can save you money on gas plus give you some good exercise!
22. Work From Home
With the price of gas always on the rise, it’s no wonder that more and more people are looking to work from home.
Working from home means less time in the car, which means less gas used overall. And, since you’re not commuting, you can take your time and work at your own pace, which can help you get more done in less time.
23. Make Passive Income
Making passive income is another great idea to bring in and save money on expenses like gas because you don’t have to drive or actively work to earn money!
For example, you could earn interest on a high-yield savings account or stocks, which means you can earn more money on the income you already earned.
Or you could sell printables online or create YouTube videos to entertain the masses.
The possibilities for passive income are endless, so find options that work best for you and get started today!
24. Take The Bus Whenever Possible
Taking the bus is one of the easiest ways to save on gas. Public transportation is fuel-efficient, so you can conserve fuel by taking the bus instead of driving.
In addition, public transportation is often less expensive than gas for a car (plus insurance and upkeep!).
25. Get Cash Back Elsewhere
While the high gas price can damper anyone’s budget, there are a few easy ways to offset the cost.
Using cash back apps can also help save more money, which can then be used to pay for a gas fill-up:
- Use the Honey extension for your browser to automatically apply coupons to your online shopping carts or find better prices elsewhere. Want to know more? Here’s our Honey Review so you can see all the ways you can save.
- Capital One Shopping is a free web browser extension that can be used to find coupons and promo codes for online stores and get rewards for shopping online. Read our Capital One Shopping Review to find out about more savings.
- Rakuten is another app where you can earn cash back on any purchase you make online. Check out our Rakuten Review to see what other perks the app offers!
26. Find Grocery Store Perks
With these apps, you can easily earn money back on your groceries, which can then be used to help pay for gas.
Ibotta allows you to earn money back on specific items that you purchase at the store. For example, if you buy a particular type of cereal, you may be able to get $0.50 back.
You simply have the app, check for savings and coupons, shop in-store, and then scan your receipt to get your cash back.
27. Earn Free Money
Besides cash back apps and survey sites, there are other ways to get free money, and put it towards your gas bill.
Here are a few ways to get free money:
- Get paid to walk and exercise with HealthyWager, Sweatcoin, and more
- Review products using Pinecone Research
- Sell your data with MobileXpression
Key Takeaways
There’s no doubt recent gas prices are a big financial burden and add to household expenses for many families.
Hopefully, you can take these suggestions to heart and use them to save money on gas. We have found them very helpful, and every dollar counts when it comes to saving money!
Over time those savings can add up if you use our tips on how to save money on gas.
Start making small changes today, like working from home a few days a week or using gas apps like GetUpside, and you’ll see the difference in your wallet as soon as tomorrow!
