8 Ways to Cut Your Commute Costs Without Buying a New Car

A lower-cost commute does not always require a newer vehicle. Cutting unnecessary miles, reducing parking expenses and keeping the current car properly maintained can all reduce the cost of getting to work – Shutterstock

The cheapest commute may not require a different car. It may require changing how often that car makes the trip, where it parks, how efficiently it travels, or which costs get attached to each workday.

That matters because a vehicle can quietly become a very expensive commuting machine. AAA’s latest ownership analysis puts the average annual cost of owning and operating a new vehicle at $12,863, although individual costs vary widely by vehicle and driver. A paid-off older car does not erase fuel, tires, maintenance, insurance, parking, or depreciation. The good news for drivers who want to keep their current vehicle: several ways to reduce those costs do not involve visiting a dealership.