Whether you are going to work or to the grocery store, the cost of insurance, upkeep, and gas can add up quickly on your vehicle. If you work in another town it’s even more of an expense. If you have an older vehicle, that wear and tear could quickly lead to you not having a running vehicle at all.

Owning a vehicle, in general, isn’t a cheap endeavor. You have to have insurance, it needs regular visits to the mechanic (for oil changes at the least), and gas is an ever fluctuating expense. If you want to try to save some money on your local transportation here are a few things that might help.

Get A Better Vehicle

One thing to do to save money on gas and upkeep, especially if you have an older vehicle, is to invest in a new vehicle. Get something that is small and more economical. A smaller vehicle will use less gas and still get you where you want to go. Plus, a brand new car will need far less visits to the shop.

Consider going even more green and get a hybrid or flex fuel vehicle. Hybrids are excellent at saving money on mileage, no matter how far you need to drive for work. If you tend to haul a lot, or have children, you can still find options in the mid-range size vehicle that come in hybrid versions.

Consider Public Transportation

Even if you own a vehicle that doesn’t mean you need to drive it every day. Consider cutting down on air pollution by taking public transportation whenever possible. While not everyone lives where public transportation is available, those that do may find it a cheap alternative to driving themselves to work.

Walk Or Bike When You Can

Whether you live in a small town or a large city, it’s likely there are places you could walk or bike to that are close enough you don’t need your car, if you have one. If you live in a city rife with public and alternative transportation you may not need a vehicle at all, and can always rent one if you need to leave the city for anything (like a vacation). Walking or biking, whenever you can, is not only good for the environment, but it’s also good for your health.

Try Rideshare Or Uber/Lyft

Speaking of alternative transportation, if you’re in a medium to large city, you likely have the options of things like rideshares and Uber. If you don’t do a ton of traveling Uber and Lyft can be cheaper alternatives than owning a vehicle. Prices will vary depending on peak hours, but it’s definitely worth looking into if you want to save money on transportation.