ROAD. READY TO HIT THE ROAD FOR A FAMILY GETAWAY? NOT SO FAST. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE PACKING BAGS AND LEAVING THE HOUSE. INSPECT ALL FOUR OF YOUR TIRES FOR CUTS, CRACKS OR HOLES, OR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY A HIGH OR SIDEWALK. ALSO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE AND ADJUST IT TO THE NUMBER INDICATED ON THE DRIVER’S DOOR. PROPERLY INFLATED TIRES ARE SAFER. LAST LONGER AND MAKE YOUR CAR MORE FUEL EFFICIENT. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR CAR MORE FUEL EFFICIENT BY REducing AERODYNAMIC DRAG. YOU CAN REMOVE YOUR BIKE RACK AND ROOF RACK IF YOU ARE NOT USING THEM. And don't hate me, but if you just obey the speed limit, you'll also save fuel. CONSUMER REPORTS TESTING SHOWS YOU LOSE ABOUT SIX MILES PER GALLON AT 75, INSTEAD OF 65 MPH. AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO FILL THE TANK, WHILE MANY GAS STATIONS OFFER YOU A LOWER PRICE IF YOU PAY FOR IT IN CASH, A CREDIT CARD WITH CASH REWARDS CAN ACTUALLY BE A BETTER DEAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU PAY MORE FOR GASOLINE THAN YOU NORMALLY WILL IN A MONTH. AND IF YOU EXPERIENCE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR A FLAT TIRE, PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR A LONG-DISTRIBUTION TOW CAN COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, SO YOU WOULD BE WORTH USING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PLANS LIKE TRIPLE A OR BON SAM BEFORE YOU HIT THE ROAD . OR YOU MAY ALREADY BE COVERED BY YOUR CAR INSURANCE OR YOUR CREDIT CARD AT NO FEES. AND APPS AND WEBSITES LIKE GASBUDDY AND WAZE CAN HELP YOU IN REAL TIME, WITH PRICES AT NEARBY GAS STATIONS. WHEN YOU ARE FILLING IN A FAMILY AREA. AND ALTHOUGH MANY GAS STATIONS OFFER A LOWER PRICE, IF YOU PAY IN CASH LIKE YOU HAVE HEARD A CREDIT CARD WITH CASH BA
Here are Consumer Reports' summer travel tips
Updated: 8:49 a.m. PDT, June 17, 2024
Are you already dreaming of summer? If your plans include a road trip, Consumer Reports has tips to help you stay safe, save money and handle unexpected bumps in the road. Before hitting the road for a family getaway, Consumer Reports recommends a few things before you pack your bags and leave the house. Inspect your tires for signs of damage, such as cuts, cracks and blisters on the sidewalls that could result from potholes. Also check the tire pressure and adjust it to the number indicated on the driver's door pillar. Properly inflated tires are safer, last longer and make your car more fuel efficient. You can make your car more fuel efficient by reducing aerodynamic drag. If you're not using it, remove anything that looks like a roof rack or bike rack. And obeying speed limits can also save fuel. Consumer Reports testing shows you lose about six miles per gallon at 75 miles per hour instead of 65 miles per hour. And when it's time to fill up, many gas stations offer a lower price if you pay with cash. A credit card with cash back on gas might actually be a better deal, especially if you spend more on gas than you usually would in a month. And if you experience mechanical issues or a flat tire, paying out of the budget for long-distance towing can cost hundreds of dollars. It's worth checking out a roadside assistance plan like AAA or Good Sam before hitting the road. Or, you may already be covered by your car insurance or credit card, at no cost to you. Apps and websites like GasBuddy and Waze can help you with real-time prices at nearby gas stations when you're filling up in an unfamiliar area – and while you're filling up. many gas stations will quote a lower price if you pay with cash, so a credit card with cash back on gas might actually be a better deal. See more coverage of California's top stories here | Download our app.
Are you already dreaming of summer? If your plans include a road trip, Consumer Reports has tips to help you stay safe, save money and handle those unexpected bumps in the road.
Before hitting the road for a family getaway, Consumer Reports recommends a few things before you pack your bags and leave the house.
Inspect your tires for signs of damage, such as cuts, cracks and blisters on the sidewalls that could result from potholes. Also check the tire pressure and adjust it to the number indicated on the driver's door pillar. Properly inflated tires are safer, last longer and make your car more fuel efficient.
You can make your car more fuel efficient by reducing aerodynamic drag. If you're not using it, remove any items like a roof rack or bike rack. And obeying speed limits can also save fuel. Consumer Reports testing shows you lose about six miles per gallon at 75 miles per hour instead of 65 miles per hour.
And when it comes time to fill up, many gas stations offer a lower price if you pay with cash. A credit card with cash back on gas might actually be a better deal, especially if you spend more on gas than you usually would in a month.
And if you experience mechanical issues or a flat tire, paying out of pocket for long-distance towing can run into the hundreds of dollars. It's worth checking out a roadside assistance plan like AAA or Good Sam before hitting the road. Or, you may already be covered by your car insurance or credit card, at no cost to you.
Apps and websites like GasBuddy and Waze can help you see real-time prices at nearby gas stations when you're filling up in an unfamiliar area — and even though many gas stations offer a lower price if you pay cash, credit card cash-back rewards on gas might actually be a better deal.
See more coverage of California's top stories here | Download our app.
