Upgrade to a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle?

A higher-MPG car costs less to fuel. See how much you'd save each year.

Your numbers

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Annual fuel savings

Saved per year
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Fuel cost is miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon. Savings are energy only; weigh them against any price difference between the vehicles.
About this calculator

Upgrade to a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle?

A fuel efficiency calculator shows the annual and multi-year fuel savings of a more efficient vehicle, comparing your current MPG with a higher-MPG car.

How the savings add up

Fuel cost is miles driven divided by MPG, times the price per gallon. Because MPG is in the denominator, improving it has an outsized effect: going from 22 to 38 MPG can cut a fuel bill by nearly half. The more you drive, the larger the annual savings.

Weigh it against the price difference

Fuel savings are only part of the decision. A more efficient car may cost more upfront, so compare the yearly and lifetime fuel savings against any price premium. Over many years and miles, efficiency can pay for itself, but the answer depends on your mileage, gas prices, and how long you keep the car.

How to use it

  1. Enter your annual mileage.
  2. Enter your current MPG and the new car's MPG.
  3. Enter the gas price.
  4. See the annual and multi-year fuel savings.

Frequently asked questions

How much does better MPG save?

A lot, because MPG is in the denominator. Going from 22 to 38 MPG can cut your fuel bill by nearly half; the calculator shows your exact savings.

Is a fuel-efficient car worth the higher price?

Compare the lifetime fuel savings to any price premium. The more miles you drive and the higher gas prices are, the more efficiency pays off.

Does this include electric cars?

This compares gas MPG. For an EV, our electric-vs-gas calculator compares energy cost per mile directly.

See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.

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