These Google Maps features help you spend less on gas

Many daily activities contribute to fuel expenses, from commuting to running errands and visiting friends. While reducing driving frequency or purchasing a more fuel-efficient vehicle could help, the author sought ways to save without significant changes. The Google Maps app provides useful features to spend less on gas without much effort.

One feature allows Google Maps to suggest fuel-efficient routes. After enabling this option in the app settings, the app takes fuel consumption into account when suggesting directions, alongside factors such as real-time traffic, road conditions, and route simplicity.

To use this feature, open Google Maps, go to Settings, select Navigation, and turn on the Prefer fuel-efficient routes option. The app will then prioritize routes that consume less fuel.

The author also saves their car's engine type in Google Maps. Different engines perform better depending on driving conditions. For instance, diesel vehicles are typically more fuel-efficient on highways, while hybrid cars benefit from city traffic and hilly roads due to regenerative braking. To set the engine type, go to Settings, Your vehicles, and choose the appropriate option like petrol, diesel, hybrid, or electric.

Another helpful tool in Google Maps is the ability to compare gas prices at nearby stations. By searching for gas stations or using the "gas near me" feature, users can view listings for nearby fuel stations along with their listed fuel prices. This allows for quick comparisons before deciding where to fill up. The feature is available in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

For those who want more detailed comparisons, the GasBuddy app is an alternative. It enables users to search for nearby stations and sort results by price or distance, ensuring they find the best deal.

Traffic congestion not only wastes time but also increases fuel consumption due to prolonged driving, stop-and-go traffic, and idling. Google Maps addresses this issue with its Traffic layer. Users can access this layer by opening the app, tapping the Layers icon, and selecting Traffic under Map details. If the regular route shows heavy congestion, users can find alternative roads or consider leaving slightly later if their schedule permits.

Google Maps also offers an estimate of traffic conditions based on the planned departure time or destination time. By entering a destination and selecting Directions, users can adjust the departure time to avoid rush hour or choose a less congested departure window.

Planning errands together can also save fuel by avoiding multiple trips for related tasks. By searching for multiple destinations in Google Maps and adding them as stops, users can create a single route that visits all the necessary locations. This approach minimizes driving distance and time without compromising on the errands to be completed.

Google Maps does not eliminate fuel costs, and its estimates may not always reflect real-world conditions. However, the gas-price comparisons, fuel-efficient routing, information, and multiple-stop directions offered by the app can help users avoid unnecessary expenses on fuel.