Auto Club Gives Top Five Tips for Cutting Your Gas Bill Down To Size

SAN DIEGO--Aug. 1, 20039, 2003--With gasoline prices nearing $2 per gallon, motorists are seeing their gas bills go higher and higher. But according to the Automobile Club of Southern California, there are very simple steps motorists can take to help cut their gasoline bill down to size.

"Anyone can save on gasoline if they think about their driving and buying habits and make some small changes," said Steve Mazor, principal automotive engineer for the Auto Club.

In the San Diego area, gas prices rose nine cents since yesterday and almost 25 cents over the last 10 days. Today's average price in San Diego is $1.951.

Mazor recommends the following five steps:

-- Shop aggressively for the lowest prices. You can save by paying attention to the prices of stations along your route. But don't go too far out of your way to save a few cents on gasoline, because you'll waste more money than you save. Shopping around encourages retailers to be more competitive.

-- Ride Share. You can cut your fuel expenses by 50 percent by sharing commuting expenses with one other person.

-- Check your tire pressure. Under-inflated tires can cut fuel economy by up to 2 percent per pound of pressure below the recommended level.

-- Slow down, accelerate and brake gently and anticipate driving conditions. By going easy on the gas pedal and brake, you can change your ride from a jerky one to a smooth one. That can add up to 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.

-- Clean the junk out of the trunk. Some people carry hundreds of pounds of unnecessary items in their trunk. The more weight the car carries, the harder the engine has to work and the fewer miles per gallon you will get.

"Two-car families can save money by using the one vehicle that gets the best fuel efficiency," Mazor said.

Credit cards that offer rewards points can help save money. AAA Platinum Visa gives a 5 percent rebate on gasoline purchases made at the pump.