According to the American Automobile Association, the average cost of owning and driving a car 15,000 miles a year is around $7,800. That includes everything, from gas to insurance to taxes. That's quite an expense. Imagine the cost for SUVs. Fortunately, it isn't something you can't do anything about. Here are a few ways to cut down on vehicle expenses:

Used cars

New cars are nice, but devalues in a few years. That's the great thing about used cars, you can buy still somewhat new, fully functional cars for only a fraction of the brand-new price. Even better, you'll pay less insurance and tax for it.

Get fuel-efficient cars

A good, regular car with good gas mileage can save you a lot. SUVs are tempting, but if you have a small family, opt for more fuel-efficient sedans instead (they're also cheaper anyway). You don't need a hybrid vehicle either, since they're so expensive to begin with.

Shop around for car insurance

Don't just walk up to an insurance company and take their offer. Look around, because rates vary between different insurance companies. There are various sites on the internet that can provide you with car insurance quotes. Teens should especially do this, because teenage car insurance is usually more expensive, but this drops as the teenager reaches 25, especially if he's a responsible driver.

Collision and comprehensive coverage?

If you have a really old car, you might want to forget about these, because you wouldn't make much from the insurance claim anyway. This can really reduce your insurance premium, by up to 1/3 of its original cost.

Combine policies

Try checking with the company that provides your homewoners insurance if they offer auto insurance first. Multiple-line policies can net you a discount.

Gas prices also vary

There are price-monitoring sites on the Internet, so try using these and looking around in your neighborhood for cheaper gas. Even a 20-cent difference, while it seems small, is still a difference and can build up in the long run.

Gas rebate card

Some credit cards give gas rebates. Discover Open Road card, for instance, gives back $10 for every $200 you spend on gas per month. That's as much as $120 a year in rebates.

Use public transportation

Public transportation, though it costs more energy, is really the best thing to do if you're trying to cut down on vehicle expenses. Not only will it save you gas, but also parking fees, maintenance costs, and much more. Sometimes, your employer can also give you transportation allowance. If it does, you're basically riding around for free.

Join/create car pools

Not only will you get to share expenses when you ride with more people, it could also be more fun. Try it!