How to save on gas prices
The Iran war has sent costs soaring
As the Iran war continues with no end in sight, gas prices across the nation are ratcheting up.
Already, the "average price of gasoline in America has surged by nearly a dollar per gallon since February 28 when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran," said Reuters. And many Americans expect the price to continue rising. Per a Reuters/Ipsos poll released in mid-March, "Americans overwhelmingly expect fuel costs will keep climbing as President Donald Trump's war with Iran crimps global oil supplies," with costs now "starting to bite U.S. household finances."
While there is no way to avoid the hikes altogether, consumers can take steps — from making efforts to get greater fuel efficiency to seeking out savings at the pump — that can help buffer their wallets from the impact.
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1. Get strategic with your trips out
One way to save money at the pump is to get more strategic about your driving. For instance, you might consider "grouping your trips," as this translates to "fewer miles driven," said Kiplinger. Even if your errands are dragging you all over town, simply doing everything in one go can help. Since "all non-electric cars use more fuel when the engine is cold," the "fewer times you need to bring the engine up to temperature, the better."
2. Unload excess weight
Believe it or not, there is a "1% in fuel mileage reduction per 100 pounds," said Kiplinger. This means that all of that stuff you're hauling around — whether golf clubs, a case of water or even that third row of seats you never use — is making a difference. Other culprits are your roof rack and carrier.
3. Take advantage of rewards programs
There are a plethora of fuel-savings rewards programs out there, and you'd be remiss not to take advantage of at least one of them. For instance, you might use a gas rewards credit card to earn cash back at the pump, or you could see if your local grocery store offers its own rewards program.
If you are a member, Costco in particular can offer notable savings: "Drivers can often save around 10 to 30 cents per gallon compared with nearby stations" — and "according to reports, Costco has been known to maintain lower gas prices even when national averages rise," said U.S. News & World Report.
4. Comparison-shop before filling up
If you can plan ahead before filling up (rather than waiting until you're in dire need), you might also save. Gas price apps, many of which are free to use, allow you to "compare gas prices in an area to show you which stations have the lowest prices," said NerdWallet. With these apps, you simply "search by your specific location or a city or ZIP code, as well as criteria like type of fuel and payment method."
5. Don't put the pedal to the metal
If you have a need for speed, consider these numbers. Safe-driving methods can boost your fuel efficiency by up to 40% depending on the speed and how frequently you stop and go. At highway speeds, your fuel efficiency jumps 15% to 30%, whereas in stop-and-go traffic, it ranges widely between 10% to 40%," said Money, citing data from FuelEconomy.gov.
That can mean a "whopping savings rate of 30 cents to $1.40 per gallon," said Money — and that's if fuel prices are around $3.50. When fuel prices are higher, you could even save more.
