Before you go looking for boxes to fill in so that you can see your gas savings – STOP – it’s an easy to use, but very advanced in what it can calculate, Excel spreadsheet and you will find it at the end of this post.

Most gas savings calculators only let you enter in an average fuel efficiency (MPG), and the number of miles you drive.  These two numbers are supposed to come up with your “gas savings” compared to a different car.  The gas calculator I created takes much more into consideration:

• Highway miles driven
• City miles driven
• Gas type (regular, mid-grade, premium)
• Expected time to own next car

If you drive more freeway miles than city miles or if your car takes premium gas and you’re comparing it to a car that uses regular gas, this gas savings calculator will really help you understand your “true” savings.  Better yet, you can take it with you!  You don’t need to be online to use the calculator since it is an Excel spreadsheet.

I created the spreadsheet out of my own interest in calculating my expected gas savings.  My old car was a 2000 Volkswagen Passat and I was looking to buy a newer Honda Civic because of the huge improvement in gas mileage (and reliability).  Using the gas calculator, I estimated that I would be saving $769 a year in gas, or $3,847 over the five years I expected to own the Honda.   Knowing that I was going to get that kind of gas savings made purchasing the Honda a really easy decision.

As I mentioned, I created this calculator out of my own interests, but if you think I can improve it in some way (or if you find a bug), please make a comment and let me know.  I’m also interested in what kinds of cars people are selling and buying in an effort to save on gas.  So, make a comment and share your gas savings experience.  Thanks!

Here’s the calculator: Carsala’s Gas Savings Calculator