If you’re about to take a long trip in the car, you’re probably already thinking about how to take the trip in a manner that makes good use of your time and money, and pays regard to the wellness of your car. While it's easy to put automobile care at the bottom of your list of priorities, car preservation is something that can be addressed easily, with little or no money. It’s all about how skillfully you drive, and how well you plan.

First and foremost, one of the best innovations of the last couple years has been the making public of hand held global positioning satellite (GPS) systems. These systems cost anywhere from $99.00 to $299.99. The cheapest ones are more than adequate, and the higher priced ones are impressive. Not only do GPS systems ensure your safety in the event of an accident, they also make it possible for you to take the quickest, most efficient, and easiest route to reach your destination.

While you’re on the road, try your hardest to go no faster than 55mph. I know you want to get where you’re going as fast as possible, but the 55mph speed limit is enforced chiefly for fuel economy, not only for safety. Also, use cruise control as often as possible. The less the acceleration varies, the better (in terms of fuel economy). If you’re having trouble going the speed limit, hang out with the trucks in their lane – just make sure you give them enough room to pass and see that you exist.

Drafting, while incredibly important for cyclists, is something that should never (ever) happen with vehicles. Tailgating is one of the worst practices known to the driving world – avoid it at all costs. It’s nothing but unsafe and annoying.

Follow these tips and you'll see it's rather simple to get to your destination, save money and time, and pay attention to car preservation all the while. The hard part is finding something good to eat!