How to Cut Your Gas Bill in Half

Instability in Libya, Egypt and throughout the Mideast has sent gas prices well north of $3 a gallon. Try these 5 road-tested ways to save money on gas. Also check out the most fuel-efficient 2011 cars and SUVs. By Dan Shapley

Pay $0.80 a Gallon: Trade in Your SUV

If you must drive, replace your gas guzzler with a fuel-efficient model. The most fuel-efficient car, several years running has been the hybrid Toyota Prius, which gets 50 mpg. But new electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt get the equivalent of 100 mpg. The least fuel-efficient 2011 SUVs, the Chevrolet Suburban and the GMC Yukon, get about 12.

If you swapped that gas-guzzler for an electric car, it would be like shaving more than $3,000 from your annual fuel bill. The cost of an average commute in a Prius is about $1 at current gas prices, versus about $4 in one of those SUVs. In other words, you'll go almost four times as far on a tank of gas in the Prius, so the $3.19 you pay to fill your SUV is like paying $0.80 in the Prius.

If you're buying a new car, consult The Daily Green's list of the most fuel-efficient cars and SUVs, or invest in a reliable fuel-efficient used car.