Updated October 18, 2026. Gas is about 188 cents a litre across Canada. You cannot change that. You can change how many litres you burn. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) says good driving habits can cut fuel use by as much as 25%. That is a top figure, not a promise. But most of the habits cost nothing. Here are the ones that matter most, with NRCan's own numbers.

To know what your car uses now, start with our guide to fuel consumption in Canada.

The three habits that save the most

1. Slow down on the highway. NRCan says most vehicles run best between 50 and 80 km/h. Above that, fuel use climbs. At 120 km/h a vehicle uses about 20% more fuel than at 100 km/h. On a 25 km trip, that speed cuts only two minutes from your drive. Here is our math for a long trip. Take 1,000 km in a car that uses 7.0 L/100 km at 100 km/h. That is 70 litres. At 120 km/h, about 20% more is 84 litres. At 188.4 cents a litre, the faster trip costs about $26 more. It also saves about an hour and 40 minutes of driving time, so you decide if that is worth it.

2. Be smooth. NRCan says to take about 5 seconds to get up to 20 km/h from a stop. Look far ahead. Take your foot off the gas and coast when you see a red light or slow traffic. Tests show that speeding up and down between 75 and 85 km/h every 18 seconds can raise fuel use by 20%. Cruise control helps on flat highway. On hills, let your speed drop a little going up and gain it back going down.

3. Check your tire pressure every month. NRCan says tires 8 psi (56 kPa) too low can raise fuel use by up to 4%. They can also cut tire life by more than 10,000 km. Our math: a car that uses 7.0 L/100 km and drives 20,000 km a year burns 1,400 litres. Four percent of that is 56 litres, or about $105. Do it right:

  • Check when the tires are cold, before you drive.
  • Use the number on the sticker on the driver's door frame.
  • Never go above the maximum written on the tire's sidewall.
  • Check more often when the weather turns cold, since pressure drops with the air temperature.

Photo: R. Henrik Nilsson, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

More things that help

Habit What NRCan says
Stop the engine at long stops Turn it off if you will wait more than 60 seconds, except in traffic. A 3-litre engine wastes about 300 mL for every 10 minutes it idles.
Take off roof and bike racks Drag can raise highway fuel use by as much as 20%.
Use A/C only when you need it It can raise fuel use by as much as 20%. Open the windows in the city. On the highway, close them and use the vents.
Remove extra weight A mid-size car uses about 1% more fuel for each 25 kg. Take out the salt, sand and sports gear.
Watch the fuel display Many drivers use 15% less by acting on what the display shows.
Combine trips A warm engine is more efficient, so do your errands in one loop.
Plan your route Skip roads with a lot of stoplights. Use four-lane highways when you can.

Cold weather changes some of this. For block heaters, idling and winter tires, read our winter guide.

What these habits can save

NRCan's numbers are "as much as" figures. They are the top of the range, and you cannot add them up. Your own result depends on your car, your trips and your roads. The easiest way to see it is to use the full-tank method. Fill up, note the odometer, drive, fill up again. Divide litres by kilometres, then multiply by 100. Do it for a few tanks before you change anything, and again after.

Short city trips are the hardest on fuel. The engine is cold, and you stop often. If you can, join errands together. NRCan says a longer trip lets the engine warm to its most efficient temperature.

The biggest saving is the car itself

Habits help. But the car you buy sets the bar. These are 2026 NRCan combined ratings, with our math on what the gap is worth over 20,000 km a year at 188.4 cents a litre. Each 1 L/100 km is 200 litres a year.

Choice Combined Gap Extra gas per year Extra cost per year
Honda Civic Sedan, gas 6.7 L/100 km
Honda Civic Sedan Hybrid 4.9 L/100 km 1.8 360 L about $678
Ford Maverick AWD, gas 9.4 L/100 km
Ford Maverick Hybrid AWD 6.4 L/100 km 3.0 600 L about $1,130
Ford F-150 4X4, 3.5 L 12.3 L/100 km
Ford F-150 Hybrid 4X4 10.7 L/100 km 1.6 320 L about $603

The Toyota Camry comes only as a hybrid. It is rated 5.0 L/100 km, and 5.1 with AWD SE or XLE. Our Camry fuel article has the full breakdown. Look at the F-150 numbers too. It uses 12.3 in the city-and-highway mix, but the 3.5 L 4X4 is rated 14.0 in the city and 10.2 on the highway. In a truck, steady highway driving is where you save.

For the cars with the lowest ratings, see the lowest consumption cars in Canada. If you are thinking about plugging in instead, see EV electricity use and cost. For what a litre costs per 100 km in dollars, see our gas price and cost article.

FAQ

What is the best way to use less gas? Drive smoothly and keep to the speed limit. Then check your tire pressure each month. These cost nothing.

Does cruise control save gas? NRCan says to use it on the highway where conditions allow. A steady speed beats speeding up and down.

How long can I idle before turning off the engine? NRCan says to turn it off if you will be stopped more than 60 seconds, except in traffic.

How much does A/C use? NRCan says up to 20% more fuel. Open the windows in the city, and use the vents on the highway.

What tire pressure should I use? Use the number on the sticker on your driver's door frame. Never go above the maximum on the tire sidewall.

Sources

#A/C fuel use#fuel-efficient driving#highway speed fuel use#hybrid savings#idling#lower fuel consumption#NRCan driving tips#roof rack fuel use#save gas Canada#tire pressure fuel economy