Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes

Have you cried yet this week? No? Well, you will next time you fill up your car. It's painful, and surely your kid's college fund is running on fumes by now.

As high as the nation's gas prices are, according to the American Automobile Association, the Beehive State's prices are some of the highest in the country. These record prices have started to come down from their historic highs (slightly), but filling up at the station will likely take a toll on Utahns' pocketbooks for some time to come.

Paying for gas is unavoidable for most people, but there are a few ways you can maximize your fuel efficiency and make every dollar stretch a little further.

Here are some tips from Volkswagen SouthTowne General Manager Josh Osborne for maximizing fuel efficiency.

According to Energy.gov, underinflated tires require more momentum to move down the road and will reduce your fuel economy. Most newer cars have a tire pressure monitoring system, so if a little yellow triangle with an exclamation mark is illuminated on your dash, get your tires filled. If your car doesn't have a tire pressure monitoring system, you can use a handheld gauge to test the tire pressure.

If you're unsure how to fill your car's tires, consult your owner's manual or take your vehicle to any local tire shop. They usually will check and fill your tires for free.

Keep up on regular maintenance

As a whole, cars are remarkably durable. However, without proper and regular maintenance, engines are prone to wear and tear which can diminish the efficiency of your vehicle.

According to the United States Environment Protection Agency, a neglected vehicle that receives a tune-up "can increase fuel economy by an average of 4%, based on the repair type and quality." That's not insignificant, so be sure to keep up on oil changes, spark plug condition and your air filter. Your wallet will thank you in the end.

It's sort of a no-brainer, but the more a vehicle weighs, the more gas it will take to move it down the road. So, does your car have some extra junk in the trunk you need to offload? Even an added 100 pounds could reduce your fuel economy by 1%, the EPA reported.

You may not think you need it, but if you're trying to save some money, using a GPS can help. Using a guidance app like Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps and others can help calculate the quickest routes to your destination while avoiding gas-guzzling situations like stop-and-go traffic, construction stops and closed roads.

Apps like Gas Buddy can even help you know where the cheapest gas is near you.

There's a reason The EPA's fuel economy estimates for vehicles are always higher for highway driving: constant speed. Stop-and-go traffic, idling and jackrabbiting between stop lights kill your fuel economy. The key to better efficiency is maintaining a constant speed as much as possible. If going on a long trip on the highway, use cruise control set at the speed limit and watch your car achieve high miles per gallon.

Trade up to a Volkswagen

In general, modern vehicles are more fuel-efficient than vehicles from 10 or 20 years ago, as explained by Consumer Reports. The truth is if your car is old and on its last legs, there may not be much you can do to drastically improve your car's fuel economy.

But, you could trade in your old car for a newer, more fuel-efficient Volkswagen.

"It couldn't be a more optimal time to trade-in. Let the market work in your favor," said Volkswagen SouthTowne General Manager Josh Osborne. Indeed, your 2002 Corolla is probably worth more right now than it's been in years, even in its duct tape state.

"From our largest SUV to our smaller cars, we have a very fuel-efficient lineup," Osborne said. "The Atlas, with third-row capacity, can get well into the 20s range for miles per gallon on the highway. In the smaller and efficient all-wheel-drive SUV, the Tiguan, you can expect something like 29-30 mpg on the highway. The Taos gets well into the 30 miles per gallon range.

"The best one of all for fuel savings is the ID.4, our fully-electric automobile. Just plug and play!"

No matter which Volkswagen model you choose, you'll get something that is efficient, modern and easy on the wallet. Contact the folks at Volkswagen SouthTowne today to see which VW is right for you, or visit vwsouthtowne.com to see their inventory.