Save on fuel with AAA’s online tools

With gas prices escalating across the country, before motorists reach for the pump, they should grab their mouse to visit AAA’s Web site to access a number of fuel tools to estimate costs and save money.

Tracking gas prices this spring and summer has been like a roller coaster ride with prices at press time approaching $4 per gallon. Motorists are feeling increasingly pinched at the pump, and they are rethinking whether or not to take trips and researching ways to save on fuel. But AAA’s Web site has the tools to help them navigate the minefield of fuel-related challenges.

Simply visit www.AAA.com and click on the news/safety section where a number of fuel tools are located, including the Fuel Cost Calculator to help you estimate the gasoline costs of a trip. Simply input the city from which you are departing and your destination from a listing of major cities, as well as the make, model and year of your car, and the program will instantly determine the distance of your trip and what your fuel costs will be.

The program uses the latest highway fuel economy ratings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to determine the costs, as well as the current gasoline prices from AAA’s daily online Fuel Gauge Report, another tool on the site. The report, which is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, shows national and state averages for fuel costs.

To find the best gas prices near you, use the Fuel Price Finder on the AAA Web site. You simply enter your city and state or zip code and a map with the local stations and their fuel price, street address and diesel availability will be generated. You can choose a radius up to 10 miles around your zip code to find the stations.

The map shows stations in the area you selected, and a listing under the map gives the address and the price of gas, including the last date and time of day when the price was updated. The prices are derived from credit card transactions, direct feeds and other survey methods at more than 100,000 outlets around the country. Users also can zoom in on the map to get better directions to each station.

In addition to helping motorists find the least expensive gas, AAA’s Web site offers tips on conserving fuel. The Gas Watcher’s Guide on the site notes that the household income spent on transportation is 19 percent, and it offers advice on helping to reduce that number.

Among the tips are consolidating trips and errands to cut down on driving time, slowing down because vehicles generally use more fuel as they travel faster and removing unnecessary cargo from the trunk to lighten the load. Another section emphasizes the importance of proper vehicle maintenance to ensure maximum fuel efficiency, such as keeping tires properly inflated.

If you’d prefer to receive a copy of the Gas Watcher’s Guide in pamphlet form, send a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope to AAA, Gas Watcher’s Guide, 12901 N. Forty Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63141. The pamphlet is free.

Mizzou Football and AAA team up for ticket discounts

The defending Big 12 North and Cotton Bowl Champion Mizzou football team is ready for another exciting season and AAA members are invited to join in the action at a discount.

The Tigers are teaming up with AAA to offer members significant savings off select regular ticket prices for three upcoming games at Faurot Field on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, Mo. The games will feature non-conference opponents Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) on Saturday, Sept. 6, the University of Buffalo on Saturday, Sept. 20, and Big 12 foe Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 11.

AAA members can purchase tickets to the SEMO game for just $23 each and tickets for the Buffalo game are only $28, a savings of $16 per ticket for each game. Tickets for the Oklahoma State game are $42, which is a savings of $10 per ticket.

There is no limit on the number of tickets you can purchase for each game (subject to availability). This special discount offer is available online. Visit www.mutigers.com and follow these instructions (Internet fees apply):

• click “Tickets” on the top of the page;
• click “Buy Tickets Online”;
• click “Promotions,” located on left-hand side;
• enter AAA as the promotion code and select “go.”

For more information or to order by phone, call 1-800-CAT PAWS (228-7297) and ask for the AAA promotional offer.

The AAA promotional offer tickets must be purchased in advance of the game date. Tickets will be mailed until 10 days prior to the game. All orders received inside of 10 days prior to the game will be placed at the Will Call ticket window at Faurot Field.