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Do You Know How to Save on Gas? Take the Money Quiz

Test your fuel efficiency smarts — and pick up tips to help cut costs

Tara Finnegan Coates

AARP

En español

Published February 24, 2021

/ Updated February 25, 2021

10 Questions

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A gallon of unleaded gas averaged $1.77 in May 2020, according to the Federal Reserve, and fuel prices have been rising ever since. Take this quiz to see how much you know about boosting your mileage.

Do You Know How to Save on Gas? Take the Money Quiz

[ {
  "question" : "What’s the best speed to drive on a highway for optimum fuel efficiency?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "50",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "55",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "60",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "70",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The answer is 50. While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.18 per gallon for gas.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Which is a website that provides information on gas prices?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "GasBuddy.com",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Fuelprices.com",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Gasbag.org",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Regularunleaded.com",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Gasbuddy will tell you the cheapest gas near you. Just put in a ZIP code, city or state to find out the prices at nearby gas stations",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Accelerating quickly can reduce fuel efficiency on the highway by what percent?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "3 to 5 percent",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "5 to 8 percent",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "15 to 30 percent",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "45 percent",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "A lead foot can result in a lighter wallet, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Accelerating too fast on the highway reduces fuel efficiency 15 to 30 percent. In stop-and-go traffic, quick accelerations reduce fuel efficiency by 10 to 40 percent.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Which is a gas-saving myth?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Buying gas in the morning when temperatures are cooler gets you a denser, better quality of fuel.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Properly inflated tires can help your gas mileage.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Not following your car’s maintenance guidelines can decrease your gas mileage.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Using an incorrect weight of motor oil can affect your gas mileage.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Gasoline is stored in an underground tank, so it’s temperature and quality doesn’t change much whether it’s day or night. You’ll likely get no savings with an early fill-up.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "For every 100 fewer pounds it carries, your car’s fuel efficiency increases:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "0.5 percent to 1 percent.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "1 to 2 percent.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "It doesn’t improve at all.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "0.25 percent",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Remove unneeded items from your trunk to increase your fuel efficiency.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "What are some the perks that owners of hybrid or electric cars can receive?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "A state income tax credit.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Access to carpool lanes on certain state roads and highways.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Free parking in some cities.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "States such as Utah and Oregon offer tax credits. Cities that allow free parking is dwindling because more electric cars are on the road. But you can still park your electric vehicle for free in Cincinnati and Sacramento. Arizona, California, Florida, Maryland and Virginia, among others, allow electric vehicles in carpool lanes.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Some websites can help estimate the fuel costs of your trip if you enter in:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Your starting point and destination plus the make, model and year of your car.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "How much money you can afford to spend on gas.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "How long you will be driving.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The average speed you will be driving during your trip.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "By typing in this data, you’ll get an estimate of how much gas you’ll use and how much it will cost to fill up.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "If you let your car idle for two minutes:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "You will overheat your engine.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "You will use as much fuel as you would as if you drove one mile.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "You will use gas in your reserve tank.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "You will damage your clutch if you have a manual transmission.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Two minutes of idling equals one mile driven in terms of gas used.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "How many plug-in electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. in 2019?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "157,000",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "200,000",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "122,000",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "261,000",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "261,000. Toyota Camry was the top-selling EV, with Tesla Model 3 sitting in fourth place.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Which car maintenance checks or features can help with your gas mileage?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Keeping gas cap tightened",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Cruise control",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Manual transmissions (stick shifts)",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Stick shift vehicles typically get 2 to 5 more miles per gallon than those with automatic transmissions. Cruise control can help with highway mileage. Loose gas caps can lower gas mileage.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

Quiz Progress

0 Correct

0 Incorrect