Improve your driving habits with advance driving lessons from driving schools & save money on fuel
55. Learn to drive efficiently
If its been years since you learned to drive you may want to take a refresher course in drivers education so that you can drive more efficiently and wisely. You may have some bad habits that you have picked up that could be causing you to drive your car in a way that increases the amount of fueloline use.
Many driving schools will offer special deals for refresher courses for just this reason...to help you become more efficient in your driving habits. If you have a young person in your home that is learning to drive this is the perfect time for you to become familiar once again with clean and safe driving habits.
56. Tax deduction
The government will give you a payment if you are willing to become more environmentally friendly and want to conserve petrol.
The owner of an IRS certified hybrid car is able to deduct +/- R12,800 in the year that the car was first purchased and used.
The cars that qualify under the current law are:
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Toyota Prius (model years 2001-2004)
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Honda Insight (model years 2000-2004)
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Honda Civic Hybrid (model years 2003 and 2004).
Take advantage of these tax deductions if you are buying a hybrid car or are planning to buy one in the future months.
57. Miscellaneous driving tips
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Use a sunshade to keep your car cool and avoid the use of the air conditioner.
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Park in the shade when it's warm.
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Make sure that your parking brake is fully released before you start driving.
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Use a block heater in winter to pre-warm your car engine.
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Don't ride the brake. Drive with a smooth, constant speed.
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Keep the transmission fluid in your car at the proper level.
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If there is smoke that is coming from your tailpipe make sure that you make an appointment with your mechanic.
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Make sure that your cooling system thermostat in your car is working properly.
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Avoid air conditioning leaks by constant checkups with your mechanic. Pre-1994 vehicles use CFCs for cooling.
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Immediately fix a slipping transmission.
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When you rev up your vehicle's engine it wastes petrol. Avoid revving your engine before your turn it off.
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If you cant find a place to buy low priced fuel on one day wait if you can until a few days later since the petrol price is constantly changing.
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Buy your fuel at the wholesale clubs, like Costco. You can often save over 10 cents a gallon or more. If you don't like the wholesale clubs get a petrol credit card. You'll get a 1% to 5% discount when you buy that brand of fuel.
58. Types of vehicle fuels
Here is a listing of the types of alternate fuels that are available depending on what type of vehicle that you drive.
Researching these different fuel types might give you the incentive to drive a vehicle that uses a lower priced fuel so that you can save money on your transportation costs.
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Biodiesel
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Ethanol
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Battery-electric and hybrid vehicles
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Fuel cells and hydrogen
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Natural fuel
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Propane
59. Current state average fuel costs
Current petrol prices at time of December 8th, 2004. You can purchase software that will give you a daily reading of what the price of fuel is in the area in which you live.
Much emphasis has been placed on finding the lowest petrol prices in your local area. When you pay attention to how much you are paying for your fueloline instead of just stopping at the first convenient fuel station you can be assured that you are taking some control for saving money at the fuel pump.
Keep a log of petrol prices for a few weeks and you may find that you see a pattern emerging. Many petrol stations raise the cost of fuel on weekends when people are traveling or when they are home with their families and making more trips on a per day basis. If you see this pattern emerging in the cost of petrol prices you will be able to take advantage of the lower prices that fuel stations have during the week.
Make sure that you purchase your petrol before the weekend so that you can avoid those high costs.