If you drive a vehicle in Canada, you're no stranger to gas prices that are constantly creeping into the realm of "holy smokes, that's ridiculous." And while these price peaks can feel like an unpredictable roller coaster, saving on your gas bill is easily achieved by keeping a few key tips in mind:
1. Harness the power of technology.
There are several apps that track gas prices by station to help you identify the best prices near you.
Gas Buddy: Head over to their website or download the app on your phone to get a list of gas stations in your area with coinciding gas prices.
CAA: If you’re a member of the Canadian Automobile Association, you'll have access to the CAA app, which allows you to search for local gas prices.
Co-Op, Costco, Esso Extra, Petro Points, and Shell Fuel Rewards offer memberships and accompanying apps that utilize rewards programs along with regular gas purchases.
2. Adjust your driving habits.
Slow down: One of the simplest and most effective ways of reducing your monthly gas bill is to simply slow down and drive close to the speed limit. Aggressive driving, such as quick acceleration, speeding and sudden breaking can use up to 35% more gas.
Proper heat/AC control: Hitting that command start button adds up quickly! Limit the time spent warming up your vehicle in winter months. In the summer, choose the most cost effective way of cooling your vehicle, which will vary depending on the type of vehicle you drive. For sleeker, smaller cars, opening the windows instead of AC creates more drag, thus costing more in gas. Therefore smaller vehicles should stick to using the AC. For larger trucks and SUVs that already pull a lot of weight, try cracking the windows instead of relying heavily on the AC, as the resistance won't matter much to the overall weight and the lack of AC will help you save on gas.
Take a load off: If you are carrying extra weight in your vehicle this will affect your gas mileage, so try to keep the load as light as possible, especially for long trips to the lake.
Service your vehicle: Keeping your engine maintained and tires filled with the proper inflation will not only help your vehicle last longer, but it will help you to reduce your gas spend as well.
3. Choose a fuel efficient vehicle.
If you're in the market for a new vehicle, spend some time researching the best vehicles for fuel economy in Canada. Check out National Resources Canada's comprehensive list of the most fuel efficient vehicles for model year 2020.
Need help getting a fast and easy approval? Ribit offers a no-hassle pre-approval service that will get you driving your new fuel efficient vehicle right away! Apply here.