We’re big fans of the road trip here at the Daily Car Blog and have covered the subject quite a few times in the past. However, the reality of a holiday tour in your car is that they can quickly get expensive if you aren’t careful. There are plenty of unexpected expenses that can arise, and if you don’t plan properly, it can leave you out of pocket.  

So, today, we wanted to give you a few tips on ensuring your road trip break away is affordable and won’t cost you the earth. Let’s take a closer look at some of the steps you can use to slash the costs of a road trip.

Filling up

One of the biggest costs of a road trip is, of course, your fuel. Filling up with petrol or diesel costs a varying amount from state to state, and even from pump-to-pump. As a rule, petrol stations in inner cities are less expensive than those on the motorway, which charge you a premium for convenience. There are plenty of gas finding apps out there to help you plan the most cost-efficient places to fill up, however, so take a look around your favourite app store and find one that covers your travel area.

Hire a car

Hiring a car for your road trip may seem like an added expense. But if you bring your own and you break down, you won’t regret it. If you can find a car hire company that offers more efficient vehicles than the car you own, it offers better value in fuel costs if you are traveling long distances. Plus, of course, most car hire companies will replace the vehicle as part of their terms of service.

Lighten the load

Of course, you tend to pack as much as possible into your car when you go on holiday. But the less you bring, the smaller amount of fuel you will consume. Make sure that your vehicle is stripped of anything you could class as non-essential before packing it. And be disciplined with the amount of clothes and possessions you pack.

Food stops

It should go without saying that stopping for food breaks at service stations will eat into your budget pretty quickly. If possible, bring provisions with you to ensure no one goes hungry and you don’t spend a fortune on overpriced garage grub. If you do have to stop for food or drink, consider heading off the motorway and going into a town or city. The prices you pay here will be significantly lower than the service station – by up to 30 percent or more.

Hotel fees

Finally, don’t forget about the cost of your accommodation. Hotels tend to add on surcharges for extra services that you might not use. For example, they might add on a cost for you to use the gym or swimming pool, or charge you for breakfast and dinner. Of course, if you intend to use these services it is often worth it, but if not, ask for a discount when you book in advance.