9 Surprising Hacks to Save Money at the Gas Station 

Turns out what goes up (and up and up) doesn’t always come back down. Or at least not without some serious money-saving-know-how and on-the-road preparedness. 

When it comes to pain at the pump, you can help yourself (and your wallet) with a little extra TLC and fuel economy strategy.   Here are some of our favorite tricks to try: 

Mondays get a bad rap — there’s Manic Mondays, Blue Mondays, and everyone’s always coming down with a ‘case of the Mondays.’ But studies show that the start of the week is often the very best time to fuel up. 

Of course, the ideal day may fluctuate depending on your location (city and state). But across the country, prices will uniformly spike up by Thursday and Friday as everyone gets ready for their weekend plans.  

At least at the pump, Mon-yay! is really the new Fri-yay! (At least once everyone’s had their coffee). 

‘Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.’ Yeah, we’re pretty sure Benjamin Franklin was probably thinking about how to save some benji’s at the gas station. After all, he’s the guy on his namesake $100 bills so we should all probably listen to his words of advice.  

But seriously, when it comes to gas prices, there’s a few reasons why you can often find lower prices the earlier you go. For starters, you’re beating out the crowd at the station. Less traffic = less demand, which = less money. 

Also, the weather is often just a little cooler earlier in the day. Not to get all science-lesson on you, but did you know that gas expands and contracts about 1% for every 15 degrees change in air temperature? So when you fill up in warmer temperatures, you’re actually getting less gas than you think you are. Because the gas swells before it cools back down in your tank… and then it constricts. 

See, science can be fun! And save you $$$! 

Take a walk (er, drive) on the calmer side. Aggressive lane-swerving, rapid accelerations, unnecessary stops and starts… they’re not going to do your gas mileage any good, let alone your blood pressure.  

All that aggression is hard on your engine (both your car and your body). Going 0-60mph in 3 seconds flat might seem fun, but it takes significantly more fuel to rev up so quickly. So stay calm, cool, and collected — and keep the gas money in your wallet.  

When it comes to filling up your tank, it’s always the first click that’s the charm. Go beyond that by continuing to top it off… and you’re really just wasting fuel. Any extra boosts just splash out as fumes.  

The key takeaway here: use the gas you pay for — or watch it evaporate into thin air. Literally. 

Always screw the gas cap firmly back in place after you’re done filling up. Make sure the gas cap is in perfect condition too. Some estimate that about 17% of vehicles on the road have loose, faulty, or entirely missing caps.  

Caps are easy and inexpensive to replace. They’ll cost you less than shelling out for gas you’re only wasting. 

Under-inflated tires? That’ll cost you. 

Unless you make sure it doesn’t — by keep tabs on your tire pressure. You want it to match the manufacturer’s recommended rating. (Good news, it’s not tough to locate, you’ll usually find it on the sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb. You can always find it in your driver’s manual as well).  

Bonus: Not only does it increase fuel economy, but properly inflated tires are key for a safer ride and they will minimize needless wear and tear on your tires… which will save you even more cash.  

Get rid of that junk in the trunk to save fuel.

Sure, it might be convenient to stash every item you’ve ever owned in your car trunk… or perhaps you like to have an extra outfit or two or five stashed   when (we’re not judging). 

But loading your car with extra weight also hogs more of your fuel.  

So keep everything you really want and need… but remove the non-essentials. 

Better weather = better gas mileage. Hey, you can’t change the weather. But a rainy, stormy day will take more toll on your car’s engine and its fuel supply. Wet or snowy roads are not only harder to navigate but since they are extra slippery, they require more effort from your tires as well. 

Your best bet? When you can help it — choose the day in the forecast to run your larger errands. Better, safer driving conditions lead to better fuel economy which is a win-win.  

Carpooling isn’t just for kids going to school. Or even bigger kids who are adulting by going to work. 

Uber and Lyft have made a whole business out of ride-sharing. And you too can level up your carpooling game. 

Think of it this way: how many times have you run into neighbors at the grocery store or the mall? Why not do it together and save a trip. After all, if you carpool your errands with a friend, you get to save $$ on fuel AND squeeze in extra time with your pal. 

As always, empowered drivers are safer drivers, more thoughtful drivers, and more engaged drivers. Check out more of our tips on our blog, such as:

• 6 Ways to Defend Yourself Against Drunk Drivers

• Dating 101: How Can Your Car Drive Up Attraction?

• Car Thefts Spike In Winter: Don't Leave Your Car to Warm Up Unattended

• Car Air Conditioning: Maximize Your Cool Factor

What are you waiting for? Join the ride and get a free quote today to see how techno-driven coverage can lower your premiums.