Google Maps has free tools that can cut your gas spending

Google Maps can help lower your gas bill, and the tools are already in the app. Android Police walked through several of them. They include a route setting that favors fuel savings, a quick way to compare gas prices, and a way to bundle errands into one trip. None of it requires a new car or fewer trips.

Pick a more fuel-efficient route

Tap your profile picture in Google Maps, then go to Settings, Navigation, Route options. Turn on Prefer fuel-efficient routes. Maps then weighs fuel use along with real-time traffic, road conditions and how simple the route is.

You can also tell Maps what you drive. Go to Settings, then Your vehicles, and choose petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric. Engines behave differently. Diesel vehicles tend to be more efficient on highways. Hybrids can gain in city traffic and on hilly roads because of regenerative braking, which recovers some energy when the car slows.

Compare gas prices before you fill up

Prices can differ a lot between stations, even in one neighborhood. In the mobile app, tap the Gas shortcut below the search bar. Open a station to see prices for regular, premium and diesel. You can also search for "gas near me."

The feature works in the United States and Canada. Google added fuel prices in the United Kingdom in October 2026. GasBuddy is another app that sorts nearby stations by price or distance, and it can double-check what Maps shows.

Avoid traffic and extra miles

Stop-and-go traffic, heavy braking and idling all use more fuel. To check conditions, tap the Layers icon in the upper-right corner and select Traffic under Map details. If your usual route is jammed, look at other roads or leave a little later.

Maps can also suggest when to go. After you enter a destination and tap Directions, use the shortcut below it to pick a time. Choose Arrive to set a deadline, such as 9 a.m., and Maps estimates a good departure time. Choose Leave to compare different start times.

Errands add miles quickly when each one is a separate trip. Search for your first stop, tap Directions, then Add stop. You can add up to nine stops and drag them into a new order. Maps can also search for places along a route you already have.

What to keep in mind

• Maps cannot remove fuel costs.
• Its estimates will not always match what happens on the road.
• The savings come from small habits added together.

The tools are free and take only a few minutes to set up. The article's main point is that smarter routes, cheaper stops and fewer trips can reduce what you spend without a big change to daily life.