5 ways to lower the cost of transport

Transport costs hitting your hip pocket too hard? We show you how you can save this year.

With the cost of living on the rise, it's key to look for ways to save. And an expense that can really creep up without you realising it is transport.

Between public transport, taxis, rideshares, tolls and petrol, you can end up paying a small fortune every time you leave the house.

Here are some of our best hacks to help you cut travel costs.

1. Look for bargains on petrol

With petrol prices seeing unprecedented highs in Australia, more drivers around the country are feeling the pinch.

So how can you cut back on petrol costs while still getting to where you need to go?

Service NSW has an app that allows you to check the cheapest fuel prices in your area. That cuts down on time spent calling up or driving around to the local servos.

The My 7-Eleven app also lets you review the price of fuel at 7-Eleven outlets in your local area. Once you've spotted one to your liking, you can then lock it in for the next 7 days.

There are other ways you can reduce your petrol use.

Short trips can burn a surprising amount of fuel due to the engine not being properly warmed up. Consider walking or taking public transport instead.

Additionally, you should get your car regularly serviced. This helps spot any issues that could be contributing to excess petrol consumption.

2. Revise your toll use

Tolls are an unfortunate reality for many of us who have to hit the road fairly frequently or live adjacent to big cities.

You have 2 main options to save on tolls – rerouting your trip or signing up for an electronic tag (e-tag).

Now, rerouting can save you some cash. However, it can also disrupt your day, add extra travel time and burn more fuel. It's not always the best solution.

And although you can pay tolls without an e-tag, there tends to be additional administrative costs involved. So by signing up for an e-tag, you can save yourself some cash over the long run.

3. Review your car insurance

Many people put car insurance in set-and-forget mode once they've signed up for it.

But like most other financial products, it's something you should review at least annually to make sure it still meets your needs.

By comparing your car insurance options, you can often make significant savings from your existing policy.

If it's been a while since you last reviewed your policy and you feel you're paying too much, it might be time to look at other options.

4. Download a travel aggregator app

Rideshare apps have gone gangbusters in recent years, but they're not without their issues.

You can't always be certain if there are enough vehicles on the road. Travel time can be vague. Worst of all is the totally opaque pricing – not to mention surge pricing.

Fortunately, there are solutions available.

Travel aggregator apps like Placie enable you to instantly compare real-time prices of rideshares, taxis, premium cars, public transport, cycling and motorcycling, as well as to book and pay for rides from one location (within the app).

With this kind of transparency, you can get the best deal for your dollars.

5. Work from home more

Of course, one of the easiest ways to save on transport costs is to simply stay home.

One of the big upsides of the last few years is that work-from-home arrangements have become more common. In fact, employers often use it as a selling point.

If you're in a role where your job could be done from home, why not discuss with your manager whether you can work out a work-from-home arrangement?

And if you're in one already, maybe look at whether it can be renegotiated to allow you to work from home more frequently.

After all, working from home isn't just a great way to save on transport costs. It lets you reclaim some time spent commuting and spend more time with your family.