Gas savings | 180+ tips for saving on cars and petrol

Gas savings are a cinch if you get into the habit of being less heavy-footed. There are many people throwing money out of car windows daily by creating bad driving habits.

So how do I know this? I know because I drive next to these speed demons daily! In fact, some days I am that person with the heavy foot. There are definitely days I put my little foot down to get my darlings off to their prospective classes on time and to get myself in the door at work by 9am sharp. If I have an entire week of slow-to-leave-the-house moments, I’m up for another stop at the petrol station as I sadly watch my hard-earned money get sucked out of a bowser, into a pump and out of my life.

So! I’ve created this nifty little cheat sheet to remind myself and help my readers make fewer stops at the petrol station this month. This list also includes a bunch of other vehicle related tips, which will come in handy over time. Laminate this list and keep it in your car. These tips are a reminder to be as light-footed as a fairy on that little sucker-of-money that is – the accelerator!

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Gas savings | 180+ tips for saving on cars and petrol

A good habit

Stuck in traffic jam? Turn the car off.

Acceleration

Do not burn people off. Accelerate slowly and save petrol.

Accidents

Keep your distance to avoid accidents.

Accommodation

Station wagons make great cheap accommodation as you can sleep in them.

Air filter

Change and check your air filter.

Airbags

Certain car features like airbags make it cheaper. Check out which ones.

Align tyres

Get your tyres aligned and save money.

Annual is cheaper

Sometimes it is cheaper to pay annually.

Anticipate it

Anticipate traffic patterns to avoid accidents. Drive defensively.

Apprentices

Make friends with an apprentice mechanic and get discounts on weekends!

Assess reasons

Do not choose a car just so you can show off to your friends.

Auctions

Buy a car at an auction house.

Auctions

Check out company and government car auctions and save big dollars.

Avoid extras

When buying a car try to avoid extra like extended warranties.

Be constant

Drive at a constant speed.

Be patient

Grow patience when buying a car. Haste makes waste.

Be specific

Only insure for major accidents. Do not insure for small incidental accidents.

Beware cards

Beware supermarket litre discounts. Nothing is for free.

Bug protection

Protect your car from bugs by placing fly wire over the grill.

Bulk discounts

Get bulk discounts on all your insurances and multiple cars.

Bulk errands

Run errands in bulk once a week. Plan your trips.

Buy a bike

A bike is a worthwhile investment for those little runs up the shops.

Buy a trolley

Invest in a market trolley and walk to the shops for groceries. Save petrol.

Buy a van

Consider a diesel van. You can also travel and sleep in it.

Buy local

Foreign cars are expensive to fix and maintain.

Buy with cash

Save your pennies and buy a car for cash.

Buying new

Avoid car dealerships. They pump up the price.

Cameras

Install cameras to watch your teenagers’ driving habits.

Car parts

Buy an old car the same as your car and use it for parts.

Car polish

Investigate making your own polish. Grab out ways with vinegar list.

Car seat covers

Make your own car seat covers with a little creativity.

Car storage

Use the backs of the front seat to install hanging storage kids items.

Car wash

Wash your own car and save on car wash costs.

Carpool

Get more life out of your vehicle by carpooling.

Carpool group

Network on this site to find people to carpool with,

Cars for sale

Check our classifieds section and see if you can find a car for sale.

Cheaper travel

Avoid tolls if you can. Sometimes it is just as fast and as cheap to avoid them.

Check it

Always get the proposed car checked out before making the purchase.

Check tyres

Ask your local tyre company about fuel-efficient tyres. Consider getting some.

Check water

Check and change water in your car weekly.

Checklist

Download a car inspection checklist and go through it thoroughly.

City drivers

Move to a smaller car. Navigate, park better and save!

City driving

Limit city driving. Use public transport.

Comparison shop

Always shop around. Use comparison sites.

Consolidate

Consolidate all your insurance policies into the one policy. Save big dollars.

Contracts

Always read the fine print. Sit quietly and read through your contracts.

Conversions

Consider converting your car to gas for big savings on petrol.

Cruise it

Use cruise control to keep within limits and avoid those nasty speed cameras.

Day off

Designate a car free day each week. See how you go and how much you saved.

Diesel cars

Check out diesel cars for economy.

Different route

Stopping and starting costs more than driving slowly without stopping.

Distances

Keep good travel distances. Avoid sudden stops.

Do without

Consider not even buying a car.

Drive well

Keep a clean driving record and cut your premiums.

Driveway

When you get home don’t idle the car while you are collecting your stuff.

Driving frequency

Go with companies that charge by how often you drive. E.g. Youi insurance.

Dust Buster

A dust buster is a great investment for cleaning your car quickly.

Engine

Only start the car when you are ready to drive it!

Even if it is cheaper

When gas is cheaper still drive conservatively.

Extra key

Cut extra keys to your car and keep them at home.

Fill up alone

Don’t fill up when the kids are in the car. They will want treats.

Fill up log book

Driver better to stretch out fill-ups. Keep a calendar of fill-ups.

Fill up times

Beware. Petrol stations often change the cheapest day.

Finance check

When purchasing check with REVS to check there is no finance on the car.

Find a mechanic

Get a local person to recommend a good mechanic.

Find cheap petrol

Visit www.motormouth.com.au to find where the cheapest petrol is near you.

Food box

Create a food box where you keep snacks and drinks. Refill it regularly.

For a lighter car

Fill up your car at a quarter of a tank to conserve the fuel pump.

Fuel efficiency

Research the most fuel-efficient cars.

Fuel is heavy

Try only filling your tank to halfway. Fuel is heavy!

Fuel purchasing

When purchasing a car research its fuel efficiency.

Gadget reviews

Petrol saving gadgets can be a farce. Check out reviews of them.

Gas prices

Check out websites offering gas prices near you. Know of a good one?

Get fit

Walking is a win-win-win! Get fit, save money and be an eco-hero!

Get legal

It saves much money if you stay within the law. No speeding or illegal parking tickets!

Get parts cheaper

Investigate buying parts wholesale online.

Getting finance

If you have to get finance you probably cannot afford the car.

Getting quotes

Get many quotes from reputable mechanics.

Go slow

You will catch up to the next person at the next set of lights anyway.

Go without

See if you can go without your car for a week. Now see if you can go without longer!

Good juice

Use the right petrol. Premium gives better performance and long-term savings.

Good website

Try out www.carsales.com.au for buying or selling a car.

Haggle

Find the cheapest, best value car and then haggle down the price.

Heavy items

Remove heavy items from the car if you are not using them.

Hidden costs

Always buy a car with a roadworthy certificate.

Highway travel

Use the air-conditioner with travelling on highways.

Hire cars

Catch a flight to the main city. Hire a car and drive to the smaller city. Save on flights.

Hybrid cars

Consider buying a hybrid car and cut your petrol costs.

Identify needs

It might be cheaper to pimp the car you have with what you need.

Idling habits

Don’t idle the car while you are getting organised in it before driving.

Insurance

If your car is old and not worth the rego you pay for it, switch to third-party.

Insurance

Always take out insurance before driving your newly purchased car home.

Job hunting

When applying for jobs go for jobs with cars included. Huge benefit!

Keep it

Don’t buy a new car. Keep driving your current one until it dies.

Keep it clean

Clean up spills as they happen.

Learn it

Learn how to do your own maintenance. Check out YouTube videos as a start.

Leave earlier

Avoid traffic and petrol or crowds on public transport by leaving earlier.

Light feet

Try not to accelerate quickly. This burns a hole in your wallet!

Live online

Spend a month seeing how much you can do online. Stay home. Save fuel.

Log books

Keep one for a month to see trip and petrol usage. Re-evaluate.

Lose your keys

Try losing them for a week and see how you survive.

Low risk cars

When buying a car consider if it is low risk for insurance purposes.

Loyalty programs

Check them out with insurance companies. Use only if rewards are good.

Maintenance

Prepare your car for winter well to avoid accidents.

Mechanics

Got a mate who is one? Offer cash for a mates-rates job.

Milk it

Grab all discounts offered on insurance policies.

Navman

Invest in a Navman so you don’t get lost. Save petrol.

Need not want

When buying a car question if you really need this car, or just want it!

Negotiate

Try negotiating working from home one or two days per week.

Negotiate again

Negotiate four longer days instead of five shorter ones.

New engine

Buy a new engine to put in your old car.

 Notice boards

Check notice boards for cars on sale. E.g. Supermarket notice boards.

Oil change

Check oil and change it regularly for better performance.

Orange lights

Don’t accelerate when you see an orange light.

Ownership check

When purchasing a vehicle check an insolvent company doesn’t own the car.

Parking

Carpools also save money on parking!

Parking fines

Never ever park in the no-stopping zone near a school. Big fines!

Parts online

Visit www.autoparts.com.au for parts online.

Pay at the pump

Also great as you don’t have to move the kids!

Petrol

Petrol expands in heat. In summer buy petrol in the cool morning. Get more petrol.

Petrol cards

Investigate the cheapest and best cards.

Petrol saver

Keep under 60km to save money on petrol.

Petrol specials

Get to know the cheapest petrol day and only buy petrol on this day.

Petrol tank

In winter only fill your tank to half full.

Petrol trick

Do not buy on weekends. It is much more expensive.

Photographs

When selling drive your car to a great location to photograph it.

Piggy bank

Start a piggy bank to pay for your annual registration costs.

Pimp It

Pimp your own car cheaply! Using your creative knack and have fun!

Pimp your ride

If you are single buy a gas scooter.

Plan fill ups

Plan fill ups before special holidays and long weekends.

Plan for hunger

Plan food and snacks. Avoid expensive food stops.

Plan trips

Organise your trip routes ahead of time to avoid getting lost.

Polish it

Cut and polish your car before selling it. This will improve sale value.

Premiums

Defensive driving courses may cut insurance costs.

Price comfort

Be ready to go for price and comfort over vanity!

Public transport

Catch a train or bus into the city. Parking is exorbitant.

Pump tyres

Make sure you check your tyre pressure regularly for good road efficiency.

Purchasing

When purchasing a car, check costs for car parts and potential fixes.

Re-evaluate

Re-evaluate the type of car you drive and for what purpose.

Registration

When purchasing check registration online for owner details.

Rewards

Use credit cards rewards only if the petrol is cheaper at that station.

Ride a bike

Ride and save while you get fit.

Roadside assist

Don’t know what is wrong with your car? Use roadside assist to find out!

Roof racks

Avoid using the roof rack or lose it altogether.

Rubbish bag

Hang a durable rubbish bag in your car and keep it clean.

Safety kits

Install a first aid and emergency kit.

Scooters

Buy an electric scooter and save on car and petrol costs!

Second car

Imagine life without your second car. Could you get by?

Seniors

Make sure you grab all the discounts available to you.

Service it

Do regular services and keep them logged in the service book.

Service yourself

Learn how to service your own car on YouTube!

Share finds

Send your petrol finds to networks near you to help them save money!

Share rides

Ask a mate for a lift. Share petrol costs.

Shop online

Shop online instead of driving to the shops.

Shopping dockets

If you get vouchers with your shopping use them!

Smartphones

If you don’t have a Navman use your smart phone.

Snacks out

Avoid the high-priced snacks at petrol stations.

Stay home

Evaluate every trip and get happy about staying home more.

Stick it out

Simply keep your current car one extra year. Prolong the purchase.

Stolen cars

When purchasing check the car isn’t stolen.

Street travel

Use windows instead of air-conditioning when travelling slower.

Take the bus

Take the bus if it is cheaper and more convenient. Grab sleep and reading time!

Thermos

Avoid buying coffee in the morning. Take a coffee on the road with you.

Thirst

Keep a stash of bulk-buy drinks or cups and litre drinks in the car for road trips.

Three reasons

Have at least three reasons to drive somewhere.

Time yourself

Time your absence from the parking spot to avoid a fine. Set a phone alarm.

Traffic lights

Coast up to lights. Save car brakes and avoid stopping suddenly.

True costs

Add up the true annual cost of your car and weigh things up.

Tuesday petrol

Buy petrol on Tuesday or a day earlier in the week and not on the weekend.

Tune it

Get your car tuned or learn how to tune it yourself.

Turn it off

Stuck at the lights? Turn your car off.

Use a taxi

Do you use your car infrequently in a city area? Are taxis cheaper?

Use navigation

Weigh up toll prices versus not taking tolls.

Wake earlier

Wake up earlier and walk the kids to school.

Walk away

Be ready to walk away from a deal to get the price you want.

Walk everywhere

Walk everywhere you can. Reap the money and fitness benefits.

Walk further

Park on side streets that are further away and avoid paid parking.

Watch extras

Don’t spend on extras like paint protection. Get the basics.

Weekends

Avoid driving your car for an entire weekend. Now try that again!

Work costs

Generally work out the full cost of going to work, including travel in your car.

Wreckers

Source parts at a wrecker and get professionals to install them.

Youth insurance

Youths who take defensive driving courses may get insurance fees reduced.