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Do you save gas by driving slower?
My friends have always told me that your car’s fuel economy is awful if you drive super fast. Since I’m an aggressive driver, I find this intriguing. But when I think about it, driving slowly doesn’t seem efficient either. Do you really save gas by driving more slowly?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
While the theory behind it is sound, you do not save gas by driving slower. The common misconception is that you’re going more slowly so your engine doesn’t use as much gas, but this isn’t true.
When you drive slowly, you’re typically at higher RPMs in a lower gear. This greatly increases the amount of fuel that your engine takes to maintain the speed. Conversely, driving fast uses more gasoline if you drive about 60 mph. Add in aggressive driving, stiff braking, and unchecked acceleration, and driving too fast doesn’t save you money either.
Interestingly, posted speed limits often provide you with the best fuel economy. On top of that, 50 to 60 mph is the optimal range for maximizing your fuel economy. So if you’ve ever seen highway mpg, you’ll notice that it’s higher than city mpg. This is due to the sweet spot where your engine doesn’t use as much gas and aerodynamics don’t have a negative effect on your mileage.
Although driving slower doesn’t save you money at the pump, embracing a more defensive approach or taking a class can
get you some discounts on your car insurance
. That’s certainly an enticing bonus of slowing your speed.Coupled with the affordable car insurance rates you’ll find on the
Jerry
app, you can save the most money possible.Jerry is a licensed insurance broker that will collect quotes from over 50 top-rated insurers in minutes. After you find a great rate, Jerry can help you buy new insurance and cancel your old policy. Users save an average of $887 per year.
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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