‘Tis the season of road trips and with road trips comes the unfortunate necessity of spending money on gas.  Why not take some gas saving tips from the one of the largest fleets in the country, the United States Postal Service!

Since 1899 when they tested their first electric vehicle the United States Postal Service has been environmentally friendly.  Today they operate with more than 44,000 alternative fuel-capable mail delivery vehicles across the country, including, ethanol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas and electric.

With 214,000 vehicles traveling 1.2 billion miles each year the U.S. Postal Service knows a lot about vehicles and how best to save fuel. “The Postal Service is building a culture of conservation that benefits our workplace and the communities we serve,” says Emil Dzuray, acting Chief Sustainability Officer. “We believe the tried and true tips our letter carriers use to conserve fuel when delivering mail can also help motorists…year round.”

With that in mind here are the USPS’ effective fuel conservation tips for all motorists:

• Use air to save fuel – Underinflated tires can increase fuel consumption by as much as 4% and lead to excessive tire wear. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

• Don’t idle – Idling uses at least a half gallon of fuel per hour and releases excess carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere.

• Drive the speed limit – Speeding is dangerous and, at highway speeds, fuel economy drops for every one mile per hour over the speed limit.

• Make gradual starts and stops – Quick accelerations consume more fuel than gradual starts.

Not only can these tips help regular drivers conserve fuel they are also part of the USPS comprehensive strategy to meet its goal of reducing vehicle petroleum use by 20% by 2015.

With your college degree in hand, finding that first job is always a huge accomplishment, but how are you going to get to work? A majority of graduates take the next big step of post-college life by buying a new car. 

New cars can be expensive, but you can take advanyage of the discounts and promotions for college graduates to help you get the most bang for your buck. Make sure to inform the dealer that you just graduated from college so they build the price of the vehicle with that in mind. 

We put a list together of current manufacturer specials that you can take advantage of! Each manufacturer has different stipulations to qualify so make sure to discuss the details with the dealership. Ask whether you can combine any promotions to save even more.

Toyota/Scion

College grads can get a $1,000 rebate (buy/lease) on new Toyota Camry (gas-only), Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, Tacoma, or Yaris. Scion also offers the same deal on xD, tC, or xB models. Qualified buyers can buy these vehicles with no payments for the first 90 days and no money down! Toyota also throws in a year of roadside assistance and special financing percentages for those who qualify. Scion will waive the security deposit with lease agreements. Toyota and Scion both require proof of graduation, future employment, and insurance.

Honda

Honda offers exclusive financing rates on their models for college graduates. Deals vary per month. April, for example, featured the Honda Civic Coupe, Civic GX, Civic Si Coupe, and Civic Si Sedan for 0.9 percent APR for 24-60 months for qualified graduates. Graduates are required to put 5 percent money down and show proof of insurance, employment, and graduation. 

General Motors

GM offers students who recently graduated the “Preferred Price” on their models. Discounts will vary based on the model and where you live. Discounts can range from $500-$4,000+ on Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles. Cadillac models and the Chevrolet Volt and Corvette ZR1 are not eligible for the program.  Graduates will need to show proof of graduation.

Kia

Recent college graduates or those within 6 months of graduating can receive the Kia $750 College Graduate Specialty Incentive. Proof of graduation is required.

Congratulations to all 2011 college graduates!

May is National Military Appreciation Month. To honor the men and women who serve to defend this country, many automakers offer programs, rebates, and discounts to military members. We’ve put together a list of a few automakers who offer these programs year round, with even more special deals this month.

Chevrolet - GM Military Discount

The GM Military Discount is available for Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC vehicles but for the month of May, Chevrolet is adding to what is already considered the industry’s best program. In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, Chevrolet will expand the GM Military Discount program to military spouses and retirees. Also for every vehicle purchased with a military discount, Chevrolet will donate $100 to Cell Phones for Soldiers as well as offer an exclusive “Honor” badge, which they will install on the vehicle at the customer’s request at no extra charge. With the GM Military Discount, eligible members of the military as well as spouses and retirees can purchase vehicles at the Preferred Price, a specially discounted price that is less than the MSRP.

Scion - Military Rebate Program

Members of the U.S. Military with current active duty status or an inactive reservist may qualify for a $1,000 rebate towards the purchase or lease of a new Scion. The purchase must be financed through a Scion dealer or Toyota Financial Services in order to qualify. Buyers must also provide proof of active service at the time of purchase.

Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge - Honoring Those Who Serve

Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge’s program offers a $500 cash allowance to be applied to the purchase or lease of a new Jeep, Chrysler, or Dodge vehicle. Eligible buyers include active military, active military reserve, retired military, and retired military reserve. Honorably discharged veterans are also eligible within six months of discharge date. 

Toyota - Military Rebate Program

Toyota offers all active duty military personnel and inactive reservists a $500 rebate towards any new Toyota vehicle purchase. In order to qualify for this rebate, the vehicle must be financed through the Toyota dealer or Toyota Financial Services.

Audi - Military Sales

If you are an active duty military member serving outside of the United States you may qualify for Audi’s overseas military program. The program offers 100 percent price protection, 100 percent satisfaction at delivery, and special military pricing that can save buyers thousands of dollars at the time of purchase of an Audi vehicle. In order to qualify for this program, you must be a member of the U.S. military serving overseas at the time you place your order.