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Google Maps can suggest routes designed to use less fuel, but it does not guarantee a lower gas bill. Turn on Prefer fuel-efficient routes, set the correct engine type, and compare the suggested route with the fastest option before you drive. Google says the feature is available only in select countries or regions.
Turn on fuel-efficient routing in Google Maps
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Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture or initial.
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Go to Settings → Navigation → Route options.
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Turn on Prefer fuel-efficient routes.
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Return to Settings, open Your vehicles, and choose the engine type that matches your vehicle.
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Menu wording and placement can vary by platform, language, region, or app version. You can also adjust the fuel-efficient routing preference and engine choice from a directions screen using More or Options, then confirm the changes. Google’s iPhone/iPad and Android guidance may use slightly different labels: Google Maps Help for iPhone and iPad and Google Maps Help for Android.
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Choose the engine type that matches your vehicle
Google Maps uses engine type when estimating which route is more efficient. Google’s options cover petrol/gasoline and diesel combustion vehicles, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. If you drive a CNG- or LPG-powered vehicle, Google instructs you to select petrol/gasoline.
A mismatched setting can make the route estimate less relevant to your vehicle. Check the selection under Settings → Your vehicles rather than assuming the default is right.
How Maps weighs fuel efficiency against arrival time
The efficient route is not necessarily the quickest, and Maps does not always choose it regardless of the time difference. Google says it recommends the most fuel- or energy-efficient option when its arrival time is roughly similar to the fastest route. If the efficiency benefit is small or driving time would increase significantly, Maps may instead show relative savings so you can compare routes.
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When comparing options, consider the estimated arrival time alongside the relative fuel or energy efficiency, traffic, route simplicity, and road conditions. The practical choice depends on whether a potential efficiency gain is worth the extra time or a less straightforward drive.
What goes into the route estimate—and what it cannot tell you
Google says its estimate draws on insights from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and data from the European Environment Agency. It takes account of factors including average vehicle consumption in a region, elevation, stop-start traffic, and road types. Route selection also considers real-time traffic, simplicity, and road conditions.
That is an estimate, not a promise of what your particular car will consume or what you will spend. The official guidance does not state a typical dollar or percentage saving. Actual fuel use and cost depend on your car, driving, trip, and conditions; the route recommendation alone cannot establish that you personally saved money. For electric vehicles, Google notes that energy-efficient routes do not include charging stops.
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- View food, fuel and rest areas along your active route, and see upcoming cities and milestones
- View Tripadvisor traveler ratings for top-rated restaurants, hotels and attractions to help you make the most of road trips
- Directory of U.S. national parks simplifies navigation to entrances, visitor centers and landmarks within the parks
When the setting is unavailable
Google says fuel-efficient routing is available only in select countries or regions, and its help page does not list every supported location. If the option does not appear in Route options, availability may be the reason; the feature should not be assumed to work everywhere.
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For the current instructions and availability qualification, see Google Maps Help: fuel-efficient routes.
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