Drivers are starting to feel the pinch once again as gas prices trend upward \u2014 and experts say that increase could stick around for the next few weeks. <\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re planning a road trip or just commuting to work, filling up your tank is taking a bigger bite out of your budget.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s some good news: a little planning and a few simple changes can help cut those costs.<\/p>\n
According to AAA Texas, small adjustments in how you drive and maintain your vehicle can make a noticeable difference in fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n
Slow Down to Save<\/b><\/p>\n
One of the easiest ways to save money is to ease up on the gas pedal. <\/p>\n
Reducing your speed by just five to 10 miles per hour can improve fuel economy by as much as 14%.<\/p>\n
Experts say most vehicles reach peak fuel efficiency between 50 and 60 miles per hour. Driving faster than that burns more fuel \u2014 meaning higher costs.<\/p>\n
Keep Your Car in Check<\/b><\/p>\n
Routine maintenance plays a major role in fuel savings:<\/b><\/p>\n Check your tire pressure regularly. Underinflated tires create more resistance and waste gas. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Follow your vehicle manufacturer\u2019s recommendations for maintenance and performance. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Use a tire gauge to ensure your tires are properly inflated \u2014 it\u2019s a quick fix that can save money over time. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Drive Smarter, Not Harder<\/b><\/p>\n Your driving habits matter:<\/b><\/p>\n Avoid \u201cjackrabbit\u201d starts when the light turns green \u2014 accelerate smoothly instead. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Let hot air escape your car before blasting the AC. Rolling down your windows briefly can reduce strain on your air conditioning system. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Choose the Right Fuel<\/b><\/p>\n Not all drivers need premium gasoline. <\/p>\n If your vehicle says \u201cpremium recommended,\u201d you can typically use regular unleaded without harming your engine. <\/p>\n However, if it says \u201cpremium required,\u201d you should stick with it.<\/p>\n AAA estimates millions of drivers are spending extra money on premium fuel when it\u2019s not necessary.<\/p>\n Also, look for \u201cTop Tier\u201d gasoline, which contains additives that help keep your engine clean and improve efficiency.<\/p>\n Lighten the Load<\/b><\/p>\n Extra weight can drag down your fuel economy:<\/b><\/p>\n Remove unnecessary heavy items from your vehicle. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Avoid rooftop cargo carriers when possible \u2014 they create wind resistance and reduce efficiency. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n For every additional 100 pounds in your car, fuel economy can drop by about 1%. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Use Apps to Find Cheaper Gas<\/b><\/p>\n Technology can also help you save. Apps like GasBuddy allow drivers to compare prices and find the cheapest gas nearby.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Drivers are starting to feel the pinch once again as gas prices trend upward \u2014 and experts say…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":693801,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5130],"tags":[20503,79,26769,9967,71624,4345,425,6459,50,358,18374,3187],"class_list":["post-693800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-driving","tag-economy","tag-gas","tag-gas-prices","tag-gasoline","tag-houston","tag-local","tag-money","tag-news","tag-texas","tag-tips","tag-tx"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116321440639264763","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=693800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/693801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=693800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=693800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=693800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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