One of the most important aspects of owning a car is to have car insurance. Charlotte, NC drivers know that auto insurance can cover liability, medical fees and collision damages.  All of these things will cover you in the event of damage to your vehicle from a collision, but to care for your car on a day-to-day basis, you should think about gas mileage.

With the price of gas all over the place these days, gas mileage is on everyone’s minds. Gas mileage has a lot to do with the way you drive and take care of your car, so a few quick fixes can improve it drastically.

• Don’t warm up. You’ve probably warmed up your car by letting it run for a few minutes before driving. The truth is that modern engines don’t need much time to warm up. They actually warm up better and more quickly once the car is operating, so start driving as soon as the engine is started.
• Don’t speed. At speeds above 60 miles per hour, gas mileage decreases. In fact, each 5 miles per hour you drive over 60 is like paying an additional 28 cents per gallon!
• Don’t idle. Resist the urge to let your car running in the driveway while you run in to pick something up.
• Use your air conditioner. Yes, you read that right! At speeds over 60 miles per hour, roll your windows up and use your air conditioner. When the windows are down, you disrupt the car’s aerodynamics and decrease gas mileage.
• Remove excess weight. Don’t haul around bags of dog food or water softener salt for longer than necessary. Each 100 extra pounds in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to two percent.

Make these simple changes and take care of your car with car insurance, Charlotte, NC, and you’ll be saving money at the pump in no time!