Ten Money-Saving Driving Tips

If you tend to rack up a lot of miles during the year, you already know that those miles don’t come free. Driving regularly can get expensive, so any steps you can take to save money are going to be worth the effort. This article is a collection of ten tips toward that end – even if not all of these tips apply to your situation, we hope at least a few of them will save you some money in the months ahead.

For all of your automotive needs in the Ponderay area, turn to Taylor & Sons Chevrolet for assistance. We have a great selection of new and used Chevrolet vehicles to purchase, and we also have an excellent service department for your repair and maintenance needs. Get in touch today to learn more!

#1 – Always Use Navigation
Buying gas is one of the biggest expenses associated with driving, so you don’t want to use more fuel than necessary for any given trip. One way to make that happen is to use a navigation system each time you head out for a destination. By putting in your destination on your phone or GPS device, you can simply follow the step-by-step instructions to make sure you are taking the best path. Get into this habit and you’ll not only save some gas but you’ll also avoid the frustrating outcome of getting lost along the way.

#2 – Don’t Speed
That’s right – obeying the speed limit can help you save money. Fuel usage is optimized within a reasonable range of speed that coincides with how you are supposed to be driving on most roads. If you regularly floor it much faster than the law allows, you’ll burn up extra fuel along the way – and you will probably pick up a few speeding tickets that you have to pay for, as well.

#3 – Don’t Overwork the A/C
Air conditioning is a great feature to have in your vehicle, and you’ll certainly want to use it on those hot summer afternoons. With that said, running the air conditioning too long or too high will take a toll on your fuel efficiency. Try to use the A/C in shifts, running it for a while to cool off and then giving it a break.

#4 – Tire Pressure is Important
Another tip with an eye toward fuel efficiency is to pay attention to your tire pressure. Keeping your tire pressure in an optimal range will reduce the resistance you encounter on the road, meaning you won’t have to use as much gas to move along. Over time, your tire pressure may gradually drop, so check on it from time to time and have it topped off when needed to keep it at the right level.

#5 – Keep Up with Service
Often, when it comes to owning a vehicle, you have to spend money in order to save money. That is particularly true when it comes to ongoing service for your car or truck. Keep up with the schedule of maintenance that is required on your vehicle so you can catch any issues before they turn into bigger problems down the line. Taylor & Sons Chevrolet will be happy to get you on a consistent service plan that is both affordable and convenient.

#6 – Don’t Get Lazy
If you packed some heavy gear in your vehicle for a trip, don’t just leave it in your car or truck because you don’t want to do the work to take it out. Carrying extra weight is a sure way to use up more gas, so you’ll be paying for leaving those things in your vehicle every time you pull out of the driveway.

#7 – Cruise Control is Your Friend
Holding a steady speed is ideal on the freeway because you aren’t coming on and off the throttle and burning up extra fuel for no reason. It can be tricky to hold a steady speed manually, but vehicles with cruise control can do that job for you. Of course, you still need to pay attention to the road and be ready to adjust the speed when necessary, but smart use of cruise control is another way to tighten up your fuel consumption.

#8 – Pick the Right Vehicle
It’s not worth the expense to buy a new vehicle only with fuel costs in mind, but it is smart to keep this factor in mind when you are shopping for a new vehicle anyway. Buying a model that gets good gas mileage can save you thousands of dollars over the years, especially if you tend to drive a lot of miles. Of course, the vehicle will also need to meet your other needs, so use fuel economy as one of many factors when making your decision.

#9 – Consolidate Trips
The best way to cut down on fuel costs is to simply stay off the road. That isn’t always possible, of course, but you can cut down on how often you drive by planning ahead. Try to accomplish more than one task each time you head out, as that may allow you to stay home on a future day and not spend any money at all on fuel.

#10 – Behave Yourself
One cost of driving that we haven’t yet covered is insurance. You’ll need to carry insurance as a driver, and the cost of that insurance can add up – especially if you have a spotty record and look like a risky driver to the insurance company. Obeying the rules of the road and staying out of trouble will go a long way toward keeping your premiums down and minimizing the cost of carrying insurance month after month.

The tips above aren’t going to make driving free, but hopefully, they’ll take away a bit of the expense you incur each month to get from one place to another and back again. We appreciate the time you have taken to visit our site and please reach out to Taylor & Sons Chevrolet at any time if we can serve you.

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