You can save money and increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiency by using any or all of the following tips:

No Cost/Low Cost Actions

1. Take the junk out of your trunk. Carrying around an extra 100 pounds in your car reduces your fuel economy by up to two percent. Take with you only what you need and be sure to place luggage inside instead of in the trunk or on the roof to minimize drag and maximize your mileage.
2. Keep your tires inflated. Low tire pressure wastes more two million gallons of gasoline in the United States every day. Save about a tank of gas a year by keeping your tires properly inflated.
3. Don’t drive like a maniac. Aggressive driving wastes fuel, not to mention increases stress and accidents. Rapid acceleration and braking reduces gas mileage and can burn an extra 125 gallons of gas per year.
4. Drive the speed limit. Exceeding the speed limit on highways by just five mph drops your average fuel efficiency by six percent.
5. Don't idle. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more gas and emits more global warming pollution than restarting your car. If you are at a stop light or otherwise will be stopped for more than 10 seconds, turn off your car. Also, the best way to warm up a car in winter months is to drive it. Even when the temperature drops below freezing, you only need to warm up your car for 30 seconds.
6. Use AC and windows wisely. Air conditioning can decrease your fuel efficiency by as much as 12 percent in stop-and-go traffic, so consider cracking the windows. But at high speeds, driving with the windows open can decrease the overall efficiency of the vehicle. At higher speeds, use vents to get a good air flow. On the hottest days, keep your air conditioning on low.
7. Plan ahead. Combine trips whenever possible. Cutting just one 20 mile trip out of your schedule each week can reduce your global warming pollution by more than 1,200 pounds a year and save you more than $100 in gas.
8. Telecommute. If your workplace allows this, try working from home. If all commuters worked from home just one day a week, America could save 5.85 billion gallons of oil and cut over 65 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.
9. Share a ride. Carpool and use public transportation if possible. Doing so helps save money, reduce congestion, and cut tailpipe emissions.
10. Park in the shade. If possible, park your vehicle in shady areas, or use windshield shades to keep the sun and heat out of your car. This will reduce the amount of air conditioning needed to cool off your vehicle once you get behind the wheel.
11. Use your feet. Walk or bike if you can. If you have driven to an area where you have more than one errand or store to visit, leave the car parked and walk from location to location.
12. Avoid the rush. Try to drive when fewer cars are using the roads.

More Cost Actions

1. Perform regular maintenance on your vehicle. Keeping your engine properly tuned can save up to 165 gallons of gas per year. Check your spark plugs, oxygen sensors, air filters, hoses, belts, and tire alignment.
2. Take mass transit when available.

Buy a More Efficient Vehicle

1. Buy a hybrid. Hybrid electric vehicles combine traditional combustion engines with rechargeable batteries to improve fuel efficiency and reduce tailpipe emissions. Hybrids are more expensive than similar non-hybrid models due to their batteries, extra electronic equipment, and other features. But even with this cost premium, recent studies show that hybrids save money during the first five years of ownership due to significantly increased fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance costs.
2. Buy an alternative fuel vehicle. If you want to help reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels, you can purchase a vehicle that runs on alternative fuels like ethanol or biodiesel. Many alternative fuel vehicles are able to run on either conventional gasoline or ethanol, giving drivers the flexibility to use alternative fuels when they are available and gasoline when they are not.
3. Buy the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class. If you cannot afford to purchase a hybrid vehicle, consider buying the most fuel-efficient vehicle within its class. In addition to saving you money, this also lets the auto industry know that consumers want them producing more efficient vehicles.