This shouldn’t come as a shocker to most of us who haven’t yet switched to electric cars: gas prices are expensive right now. In fact, they’re the most expensive they ever have been in the United States.
The majority of us still drive frequently, which means we need to purchase copious amounts of gas. With that said, are there things we can do to save money on gas?
There’s no singular thing we could be doing to save lots of money, but by doing a lot of smaller and manageable things, the savings can quickly add up.
Do Uber or DoorDash Pay For Gas?
The short answer is no, Uber and other gig economy companies don’t typically pay for gas.
This is a question that many gig economy workers have when they first start out. However, Uber and other gig economy companies often have rewards programs, such as Uber Pro, that can help lower gas costs.
With that being said, let’s get into our top 7 best tips on how Uber and DoorDash drivers (and anyone else who uses their car for work!) can save money on gas in 2024.
Uber & DoorDash Gas Saving Tip #1: Adjust Your Driving Behavior
Not all driving styles are equal when it comes to saving on gas (and other forms of car depreciation). Harsh accelerations, for instance, are known to decrease gas mileage.
Related: Why You Should Use A Mileage Tracker With Your Fuel Card
Driving more slowly, easing into accelerations, using less AC, breaking slowly, and reducing idling can save you more than you might expect. For instance, AAA states that gradual accelerations can increase your fuel efficiency by 10-40%.
To save even more, you can decrease the weight of your car. Remove that old equipment and that case of water bottles from your trunk and you’ll see an immediate increase in fuel efficiency.
Uber & DoorDash Gas Saving Tip #2: Choose the Right Car
If you already own a car, getting rid of it and purchasing a new one might not be particularly accessible. Still, if you’re in the market for a new car, there are some things to consider in regard to saving on gas.
Obviously, purchasing an all-electric or hybrid car will net you the best “gas” mileage. If you do go with an electric vehicle, you should remember that, while cheaper, “filling up” your car is going to take more time than a more traditional vehicle.
Related: Download the #1 Mileage Tracker App for Uber
Electric or Hybrids Not Quite Your Speed?
If you do go with a non-electric or hybrid car, there are still things you can consider if you want to pinch every gas-spending penny. For example, cars with automatic transmissions are known to sometimes use more gasoline than cars with manual transmissions.
In addition, you could consider the size and weight of your car. A model with a smaller cab or truck bed might be lighter and thus more fuel-efficient.
If you don’t need a four-wheel-drive car in your area, you should avoid it since they usually use more fuel than non-four-wheel-drive vehicles. Even something as small as choosing lighter colors can have an effect on reducing heat buildup, which can result in less air-conditioning usage.
You could also consider looking into which cars are more aerodynamic than others.
Uber & DoorDash Gas Saving Tip #3: Treat Your Car Right
Oftentimes, we don’t give our cars quite the treatment they deserve. Putting off that oil change by another few thousand miles, ignoring that tire pressure gauge for a few days – we’re all a little guilty.
When it comes to saving on gas, staying on top of these things can save you money in the long run. Keeping your tires inflated, oil filled, spark plugs in good condition, and clearing your air filter twice a year can help you save on gas.
Related: Top 5 Tax Tips For Gig Economy Workers In 2023
You could also take into consideration the type of tires you use. Make sure they’re the best fit for your type of car. Heavier tires, for instance, will drag your car down more, which will lower your fuel efficiency.
Uber & DoorDash Gas Saving Tip #4: Use Apps & Tools
There are many apps that you can use to help you save money on your gas. Apps like GasBuddy and Upside are very popular and are easy to set up.
GasBuddy is designed to help you find the cheapest gas stations in your area. It even offers a gas card that you can use that provides you with rewards, including free gas.
As long as you’re diligent about paying off your card, GasBuddy can help you save at the pump. Many grocery store rewards programs offer similar benefits.
Route planning apps and GPS apps like Google Maps can be extremely helpful as well. You may know your area like the back of your hand, but predicting traffic can be very difficult.
Related: Google Maps Mileage Tracking Explained
By using a GPS app, you’re able to find the quickest – and cheapest – route possible. Google Maps even offers routes based entirely on gas mileage savings!
Uber & DoorDash Gas Saving Tip #5: Keep Track of your Gas Mileage
A great way to make sure you’re budgeting your gas money well is to track your gas mileage and purchases. There are many ways to do this, whether you’re using pen-and-paper or a dedicated app.
If you use your car for work, you should probably be using an automatic mileage tracker app like TripLog. Compared to other company mileage trackers and mileage reimbursement solutions, TripLog actually can natively track your fuel purchases and calculate your miles-per-gallon.
TripLog can even help with route planning, as discussed in the previous tip!
Uber & DoorDash Gas Saving Tip #6: Make Good Decisions At the Pump
Even when you’re filling up gas and spending your precious money, there are things you can do to save. For instance, don’t use mid-grade or premium gas pumps. Just stick with regular (unless your car actually needs higher-grade gas).
You can also avoid topping off your gas tank. Fill it up until the nozzle stops, and then go again until the nozzle stops a second time, then stop.
Related: DoorDash Top Dasher Requirements: Everything You Need To Know
Over fueling can cause issues such as flooding which can impair certain emissions control functions.
Uber & DoorDash Gas Saving Tip #7: Don’t Drive!
This may seem counterintuitive, but if you’re feeling the impact of these high gas prices, you can consider leaving your car at home and trying other forms of transportation when you’re not driving for work. If possible, see if public transportation is an option, or consider riding a bike or walking if you’re only going a short distance.
Conclusion
We hope you find these tips useful during these high gas price times. To learn more about how TripLog can help you save money, schedule a complimentary live web demo or visit our pricing page to learn more.
