How to Get Better Gas Mileage

If you're trying to save money on gas expenses, one way you can do it is by planning your trips carefully.You'd be surprised how much gas is wasted because of taking the long route instead of going the shortest distance.

Pay attention to the route you take when running errands. Plan ahead so that you won't do a lot of backtracking. This will help you get the most out of your gas usage. At the same time, make sure you're taking the shortest routes to work or school each day.

In addition, you may want to consider using public transportation if it's available in your area. Many cities offer transit that comes straight to your neighborhood. If not, you can try a park and ride lot. If there's no public transit in your area, you may want to think about carpooling.

If you have a friend or coworker that lives near you, works the same schedule, and has an office in or near your building you can save a lot of money by taking turns driving. The easiest way is for one person to drive one week and the other the next. You could also have assigned days.

Some cities even offer carpools sponsored by the public transportation service. Talk with someone at your local public transit office to find out if it's available in your area. Carpooling is easy on your budget and makes your fuel go a long way, helping you increase gas mileage.

In most cases, people have no choice but to use their vehicle to get to work or school. But you can make every possible effort to conserve gas even when you can't stay home or use public transportation.

Before you head out on the road, make sure that you're not carrying a lot of excess weight in your car. Sometimes things that are stored in the trunk or backseat can add extra weight. When that happens, your fuel economy decreases. By cleaning out your car you can improve your car's gas mileage.

Also make sure to observe the speed limit. Many people drive a few miles over to get to their destination faster. But what you may not know is that it's causing you to burn extra fuel. Ideally, driving 55 miles per hour gives you the best fuel economy. You may not want to drive under the speed limit for safety reasons, but at least by sticking to it you'll get more out of your gas tank.

Cruise control can also help to save gas. If you're driving in an area where the flow of traffic is steady, using your cruise control will help you get the most of your fuel economy.

While sport utility vehicles (SUVs) have been a popular model for the last several years, they may not be the best on your gas budget. In fact, many SUVs get such low gas mileage that people are downsizing.

It's also possible that you're driving an older vehicle or a vehicle that has a large engine and you're getting low gas mileage. If that's the case, you may want to trade your car in for something that's more economical.

Many auto manufacturers are responding to the high gas prices by producing fuel-efficient cars. You can find cars that are hybrid and flex fuel which allow you to get better gas mileage. However, even if you don't get one of these specialized cars, you can find something with good mileage.

For example, the average SUV has a gas mileage of about 12 miles to the gallon. But smaller sedans can offer mileage as high as 38 miles per gallon. This can save you thousands of dollars a year - especially if you do a lot of driving. Tax Incentives makes Fuel Efficient Vehicles even more attractive.

If you're driving a gas guzzler, one of the best things you can do to improve your gas mileage and save money is trade it in for the smallest car that suits your needs. If you have a big family or need a lot of space, you may want to consider trading in your SUV for a wagon or a minivan that gets better gas mileage.