Eight Practical Auto & Gas Related Apps For Your iPhone

With the rise of gas these days, it pays to use whatever resources are available to get better gas mileage, through good car maintenance and low as possible gasoline rates. The iTunes App Store has a wide selection of free and affordable iPhone gas and vehicle maintenance apps that are practical and easy to use.

Most of these apps require you to provide access to your current location so that mileage destinations and other information can be determined. Since you no doubt carry your iPhone wherever you go, it’s easy to download and collect these apps in a folder so they’re available whenever you need them.

Gas Gubby

The ad-sponsored version of Gas Gubby keeps track of your gas mileage and what vehicle service maintenance you have had done. I’ve used this app for over a year to keep track of oil changes, tune-ups, tire rotations and the like. While waiting to fill up your tank or get your car repaired or maintained, it’s simple to tap open Gas Gubby and type in gas amount data, mileage, and service reminders. The app also includes a user manual for further tips and hidden features.

GasBuddy

If you‘re looking to squeeze in a few extra gallons in your next fill-up, definitely download GasBuddy and see how well it works where you live. Simply type in your city, state, and/or zip code, and GasBuddy will give you a list of all nearby gas stations and their current prices, which can often change every other day.

BackToMyCar

I haven’t had a chance to test out BackToMyCar, but it looks to be a useful app for getting back to your car when parking in a large parking lot or area. After the app finds your current location, you tap the Park button to mark your parking location.

To get back to your car, you follow the direction of the on-screen arrow which will lead you on a straight line back to your car. The app also includes features for emailing and texting parking locations, setting a parking meter or garage notification, and a built-in camera for recording your car’s location.

PIM: ParkingInMotion

Driving around and looking for a parking garage is not only frustrating but it can also mean a waste of gas. The app, PIM – Parking in Motion – features real time parking facility information for the top 300 cities of the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Just type in the location of your destination and PIM will give you locations of parking facilities types (garage, surface lot, valet), including hours. The same goes for airports.

Download the free version to make sure your city is included in the coverage.

MPG: Miles Per Gallon

If you’re curious about how many miles per gallon your automobile truly gets, the free MilesPerGallon app will help you do the calculation. All you need to do is reset your meter the next time you fill up your gas tank, drive as you please; and then with your next fill-up input the number of miles on your trip meter, and the number of gallons used to fill up your tank. From there, MPG will do the calculation for you.

HowMuchGas

HowMuchGas is not free (.99 cents), but if you want or need an app that will help you calculate and estimate the cost of long distance trips, then this app is one you might want to have in the Transport folder of your iPhone.

In addition to inputting your travel destination, you will also need to know your car’s gas mileage, the price of gas/gallon, and the type of city you’re traveling to (city, highway, combination.)

Rest Area

If you’re traveling long distances without a GPS in your car, the ad-sponsored Rest Area could come in handy for those stretches of driving for when you need to know the next upcoming rest area.

VehiCal – Car Expense Management

VehiCal is similar to Gas Gubby as an app for recording and managing mileage and travel expenses for personal and business use. You can track “fuel consumption information, including fuel economy, gas prices, and pump totals, as well as vehicle expenses with customizable lists such as repairs, highway tolls, and parking costs.” Recorded data can emailed for external use.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

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