Though fuel prices fluctuate, the price of gasoline seems to have been on the constant rise in recent decades. It is not uncommon today for a consumer to pay over $40 to fill up even a small car, and significantly more to refuel a sport utility vehicle, truck or commercial vehicle. Even motorists who drive minimally must spend thousands of dollars per year just for the ability to get from point A to point B. If you, like most people, are not quite ready to take the plunge on the purchase of one of the new alternative fuel vehicles on the market, you can benefit from these tips to reduce the fuel consumption in your own vehicle now.

-Don’t skip tune-ups. Regular tune ups can keep your vehicle running at its optimal fuel efficiency. Regular maintenance and replacement as needed of your vehicle’s air filter, fuel injectors, carburetor and spark plugs can make a dramatic difference in fuel consumption.

-Remove needless cargo. Maybe you’re the type to live half out of your home and half out of your vehicle. Or perhaps you transport equipment and tools in your vehicle for work. Either way, keeping your vehicle free of excess cargo whenever possible reduces the weight that the vehicle must propel, thus improving fuel efficiency.

-Plan the best route for errands. Leaving home with a lot to do and no plan often leads to backtracking and making multiple trips. Determine what exactly you need to do before leaving the house, and plan the shortest route that covers all your bases. Minimize fuel consumption by selecting the most direct route with the least stop signs and traffic lights, since stopping and accelerating will use more gasoline than maintaining a constant pace.

-Make a community effort. Carpooling and utilizing public transportation will perhaps reduce your fuel expenditures most drastically. Particularly if you have children that you haul to school, sports and elsewhere, combining trips with other parents is an excellent way to reduce fuel consumption, not to mention enjoy some time to yourself.

-Reduce resistance. Ensuring that your tires are inflated to the appropriate level for your vehicle is a simple but crucial way to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy as well as performance. Be sure to inflate tires to the pressure specified by your vehicle’s manufacturer, rather than the PSI specified on the tire. After market add-ons, such as roof racks and wind deflectors, decrease the aerodynamic efficiency of your vehicle. Removing such items reduces resistance and thus allows your vehicle to displace air the way it was designed.

Saving fuel is like saving money—every bit counts. By taking conscious action to maximize the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, you will minimize your contribution to pollution and save yourself some money at the same time.