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!
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.