- Drivers can't change high gas prices, but they can adjust their usage.
- People can work from home, carpool, and combine their trips.
- AAA's David Bennett also suggests vehicle maintenance, including checking your tires.
Joshua Garcia saw the gas price writing on the wall.
Garcia, a 40-year-old in Texas, works in logistics. He's acutely aware of how much fuel costs, since he drives around 96 miles round-trip to his office daily.
In mid-December, Garcia got an EV. He said his charging costs are around $79 a month, compared to the $750 — virtually another car payment — he anticipated spending on gas in the event of the kind of unrest we're seeing in the Middle East, though he did shell out for an at-home charger. Right now, he thinks he's at a break-even point; within five or so years, should prices remain elevated, he thinks he'll save thousands annually.
Gas prices, on average, accelerated throughout March and recently began to cool, but remain elevated as the Iran war keeps oil markets on edge. The price of regular gas was $4.076 as of Friday, up from $3.790 a month ago.
Iran said on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open" to maritime traffic, which could bring the Persian Gulf region's massive oil production back to global markets. However, it will still likely take some time for prices at the pump to fall back to normal.
Changing gas prices are reshaping American drivers' everyday lives, whether through cutting back on trips or shaking up their budgets. Saving on gas can require taking the effort to check on your vehicle and being flexible with your schedule.
"Take care of your vehicle, and it'll take care of you," David Bennett, senior automotive manager at AAA, said. "Take your time when you're on the roads, plan accordingly, plan ahead."
Here are eight things you can do to cut back on gas spending.
Consider what grade of gas your vehicle actually needs
Bennett suggested considering the recommended versus the actual required octane rating. He said to check your owner's manual for this.
Manufacturers might say, "'Oh, we recommend 93 octane, but 87 is OK.' Well, if it's just recommending it, that's not required," Bennett said. "So at that case, then 87 or mid-grade 89 is perfectly acceptable, and the vehicle will run very efficiently and run fine versus you putting in the higher octane gas, which is costing you 20, 30 cents more a gallon."
Check on your vehicle
Drivers saving money on gas "really comes down to keeping their vehicle fuel efficient and running properly," Bennett said.
He added to check tire pressure; properly inflated tires help the vehicle move more easily. Most cars have a decal on the driver's side door showing the proper inflation amount.
He also said if you see any warning lights on the dashboard, go get that checked out.
"That yellow check engine light is indicating that there is a fault within one of the engine management systems," he gave as an example. "You could have a bad sensor or bad wire that's causing it not to run as efficiently as it should."
Change when you commute
Bennett suggested working from home if possible or commuting outside peak traffic hours. If you're stuck heading to the office in rush hour, you can turn off your vehicle if you are sitting motionless in traffic.
Bennett also suggested traveling outside peak hours if you are going on road trips this summer. "The busy times are going to be in probably late afternoon, rush hour, things like that," he said. "So do your driving either before or after, so that way you're not sitting in traffic idling."
David G., a 45-year-old consulting director in California, said he's opted to work from home to save on costs. He's also been using his e-bike to drop his kids off at school.
"If gas prices remain this high or continue to surge, then I will continue to avoid driving whenever possible," he said. "The problem is that high fuel prices have knock-on effects that will affect all aspects of modern American life, so I foresee forgoing future vacations, less purchases, and overall adopting more austerity measures."
Watch your speed
"Excessive speeding will decrease your gas mileage," Bennett said. "Your fuel economy essentially peaks around 50, 55 miles an hour on most cars. And then as you start to increase your speed, you could affect the gas mileage between 10 and 14%."
Plan out efficient routes
If you have a few errands to tackle or are planning a summer getaway, Bennett said to consider the most efficient way to drive.
"Is it a loop? Instead of crisscrossing the city, let's see if there's a more efficient route to do this on all five stops," Bennett said.
Combining multiple errands into a single trip and carpooling can help cut down on costs.
"Think through your day," Bennett said.
Take out items you don't need
Bennett suggested removing items that are adding weight and that you don't need in the vehicle.
"As you put more things, you're carrying around — sporting equipment or luggage that you've left in there, or you have a car carrier on top of the vehicle that you used last summer and you may use it in another month or two for your summer trip — take that off," he said. "That's all going to create drag and then decrease your gas mileage."
Take advantage of fuel rewards programs
Some savvy shoppers are leveraging new credit cards or points to ease the pain at the pump.
Austin Goodrich, a 41-year-old project manager in Michigan, has been banking points at Meijer, a local grocery chain; he can redeem 10,000 points for a dollar off a gallon of gas, which he uses to fill up his car and a five-gallon tank for his lawn equipment.
"I have thought about trying to have my wife or one of my kids that also has their own car come in behind me before I hang up the handle" to double up on points, Goodrich said. "I think my family would be too embarrassed to do that with me."
Goodrich keeps an eye on in-store promotions and has switched his prescriptions to Meijer to take advantage of the points ecosystem.
Travel to cheaper gas options
Where you fill up can also make a difference; while it might be burdensome, taking the time to locate a better pump might pay off.
"Instead of pulling into the nearest gas station solely out of convenience, use a gas-finding app to pinpoint the cheapest fuel options along your route, helping you to avoid populated or central areas where prices typically surge," said Lora Monfared, head of consumer card products at Bank of America.
