With gas prices rising and the summer holidays approaching, I’m sure many of you must be wondering how you can save the most money while being on the road. Gasoline costs are definitely higher this year compared to last year, but that shouldn’t put you off a well-planned road trip this summer. Here are 10 tips I have compiled which will enable you to shave off your fuel bill this summer if you’re planning on hitting the road.

1. Don’t leave your engine running when the car is not in use. This is contrary to the common myth that restarting your car wastes more gas than leaving the engine running for a few minutes. If you’re going to stop your car for more than a minute, leaving the engine running wastes more gas than restarting the engine.

2. Don’t buy gas during weekends. The best days for buying gas are on Wednesday or Thursday, while the worst are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, when you can be charged a few more cents per gallon. So don’t purchase gas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday unless you absolutely need to.

3. Use a rewards credit card that gives you a high percentage cash back or points on gas purchases. This is one of the most important tips to save money on gasoline, as by getting the right card, you will be able to save lots of money. Here are a few of the best credit cards when it comes to saving money on gas:

Chase Freedom Card, issued by JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), is in my opinion, one of the best credit cards available in the U.S. if you like to earn cash rebates. Both Chase Freedom -$100 Bonus Cash Back Card offer a 5% cash back bonus on rotating categories which include gas. Chase Freedom $100 offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

Blue Cash Everyday, issued by American Express (NYSE:AXP), is another great cash back credit card as it gives you 2% rebate on gas and department store purchases throughout the year, in addition to rebates on all other purchases. Rebates and cash back are given to you as statement credit. This American Express Blue Cash doesn’t require any enrollment for its cash back program. New sign-ups will receive $100 bonus cash back when spending $1,000 during the first 3 months.

4. Don’t leave your windows open when driving at high speeds. When driving fast, use your air-conditioning instead of opening the windows if you’re feeling hot, since open windows increase aerodynamic drag which will in turn impact your gas mileage by up to 10%. On the other hand, if you’re feeling hot while driving through the city, you can turn off the aircon and open your windows, since the aircon can use up as much as 5% to 20% of your fuel when driving at a lower speed.

5. Get rid of unnecessary weight in your car. For every 250 pounds of weight you carry in your car, it uses up an additional mile per gallon in gasoline. So get rid of all the things you don’t need in your car and make sure you are not carrying around unnecessary items, because that will only make your trip more expensive.

6. Don’t use high octane gasoline unless your car really needs it. You will be able to save hundreds of dollars yearly by filling your tank with normal gasoline instead of high octane gasoline since it is considerably cheaper. If you’re not sure which type of gasoline you should use without damaging your car, you should ask your trusted mechanic.

7. Avoid highway gas stations which are usually a lot more expensive than other gas stations since drivers find it a lot more convenient to stop by gas stations along the highway. They can end up charging you up to 15 cents more per gallon than the more economic gas stations in the neighborhood, which is a huge difference when you start adding it all up.

8. Get a Gas App for your smartphone. If you own a smartphone, save money by downloading one of the numerous free Apps that can help you find the cheapest gas near your current location.

9. Service your vehicle frequently. Studies have shown that a vehicle that has been properly maintained will consume less gas than a vehicle that hasn’t. By servicing and maintaining your vehicle with frequent oil changes, air filters, etc, it will stay much more fuel-efficient, and thus save you money on gas.

10. Drive smoothly. Braking or accelerating suddenly can decrease your fuel efficiency by 30%, and make your driving a lot more expensive.