What to do when you run out of gas on a long trip

If by any chance you’ve run out gas while on a long trip, there are a few tips that can help you get out of the situation. Running out of gas mainly occurs when you overestimate your gas mileage, take a longer route or a detour to places you weren’t supposed to go. However, since it has already happened, here are some of the things you can do:

Get your bearings

The first thing you need to do is pull over and locate the nearest gas station using your smartphone or your vehicle’s navigation system. By doing this, you will be able to take the shortest route, plan the next course of action and probably get to the nearest gas station easily instead of guessing.

Drive efficiently

You are required to drive slowly and steadily at about 35 to 45 mph because that’s the speed when your car is fuel-efficient. This means that if you are in a fast-moving interstate you should move to a lane that allows such speed because you have to consider state traffic laws. If you are running out of gas, the principle is not speeding up trying to reach the nearest gas station but to drive slowly and steadily.

Use Honk app for fuel delivery

Nowadays, apps are developed for everything you might think of. If your car has run out of gas completely, you need to pull off on the side of the road to avoid blocking other road users. Then, you can download the Honk app (if you don’t have it already) and ask for fuel delivery. This app helps drivers pick the services they are in need of, set the make and the model of their car and their approximate location to get an estimate. For instance, you can get towing services or fuel delivery services at a reasonable cost. This app is ideal for drivers who are not members of AAA. Instead of signing up at the moment or trying to find other options, this app can prove very helpful.

Use a lyft or an Uber to get help

If the nearest gas station is more than a mile away, the best course of action is to take an Uber to get help or fuel. If you can get fuel delivery using an Uber you are lucky but instead of walking for more than a mile, you can hire an Uber instead to save some time.

Remember, if you don’t want to face a similar scenario in future, you need to be very cautious. Check the gas meter every now and then and in case you have a long trip, ensure you refill gas as you drive to avoid getting stranded in the middle of nowhere.