The price of gas is only going up these days. With the amount of miles most Americans drive each day for work and other activities, this expense can add up quickly, affecting how much money you have to budget for other living expenses.

But, there is hope! You don’t have to go buy an electric car, or cash in your car for a bike, just yet. With a few changes to your routines and driving habits, you can start cutting down on gas usage and saving money every week! Try the following seven tips for saving money on gas:

1. Take time to plan your errands in clusters so you travel to stores in the same general area at the same time, rather than traveling to that same area several times to visit each store separately as you remember an errand. This is especially important during really cold or really hot weather. The less time your engine has to cool down, or warm up, the less gas it will use to get started.
2. Generally speaking, most cars reach peak fuel efficiency at about 55 mph. Whenever the speed limit allows you to do so safely, driving continuously at this speed can cut down on gas usage.
3. Speaking of driving continuously, holding a steady speed increases fuel efficiency. Accelerate and brake gradually for better performance, which can be done more easily if you leave plenty of space between you and the car ahead of you. As a bonus, this also improves driving safety. If your car has speed control, it is especially helpful to use this feature on a highway where you do not plan on stopping often. However, if you are driving in the mountains or a hilly region, it can actually be worse on your gas mileage to use speed control. In this situation, it is actually best to control your speed manually. One note of caution with speed control is to not use it when there is water on the highway. Hitting a puddle can cause your car to hydroplane which is especially dangerous when you are using speed control.
4. Tire pressure can fluctuate, particularly in the cold, which can affect your fuel efficiency. Check the pressure every month and top it off with air whenever necessary.
5. Cars that are well-maintained run more efficiently than cars in poor shape. Keep up with routine inspections and maintenance, and be sure to fix any problems promptly.
6. Gas can evaporate right out of your tank on sunny days. Park in the shade to prevent this process. As a bonus, this also keeps your car cooler, allowing you to use less gas-guzzling A/C on warm days.
7. Remove the dead weight from your car. For example, if you recently went camping, unpack all the gear so your car doesn’t have to work as hard to get around.

We can help you save on coverage too. Call Robert Frank Stastny at (800) 864-2645 for more information on Maryland auto insurance.