The ability to find cheap gas near you is pretty important, especially right now. The cost of living has already increased a lot in the past few years, and the news that gas prices have consistently risen over the past two weeks is going to put an even bigger dent in your budget.
This is far from the highest gas prices we’ve ever seen. According to AAA, that actually happened on June 14, 2022, when the average cost of regular gasoline rose to $5.016 per gallon, with Diesel peaking at $5.815 per gallon a few days later. At the time of writing, the national average is $3.63 per gallon, but that’s still $0.69 more than it was a month ago.
In an ideal world, we’d be able to take public transit or walk wherever we need to go, but the majority of us still need to drive and don’t want to spend our entire paycheck on fuel. Here are some tools and tips to find cheap gas near you.
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Tools for finding cheaper gasUse GasBuddy and the GasBuddy+ card
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There are plenty of apps out there that are designed to help find cheap gas near you. But GasBuddy (Android, iOS) is the best known app, letting you search your area for the nearest and cheapest gas pumps.
Though that’s not all. GasBuddy also offers discounted fuel with the “Pay with GasBuddy+ card” system. This is a free Mastercard that can be used to pay at the pump or counter, with a guaranteed saving of $0.03 per gallon. That saving rises to $0.05 at select stations, but can be as high as $0.33 per gallon with activated deal alerts. The card also lets you save $0.03 per gallon for every $25 you spend on non-fuel purchases inside the gas station convenience store.
GasBuddy also offers a premium subscription that promises guaranteed savings of $0.20 a gallon at every pump and $0.22 per gallon at select stations. Activated deal alerts raise the potential savings to $0.50 per gallon, and premium members get two free Allstate roadside assistance callouts per year. GasBuddy+ Premium costs $10 a month or $100 a year.
Download GasBuddy for Android | iOS
Use AAA’s gas price monitor
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AAA is more than just a breakdown service; its website also has a bunch of useful information and tools, including one that lets you check gas prices from state to state, and county to county. The best part? It updates every day, so you know the information is reasonably accurate.
In other words, if you’re in a position where you can cross borders in your search for cheap gas, this is a good place to start. Just be aware that the further you have to drive, the lower the savings will be. So don’t rely on AAA’s tool and only AAA’s tool to fill up your tank
AAA can also calculate the cost of gas over the course of a trip. So you can figure out whether the trip is worth it, or at the very least how much you should expect to pay for it.
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AAA gas price monitor | AAA trip cost calculator
Compare prices with Google Maps and Waze
(Image credit: Waze)
Google Maps and Waze have a lot of information about businesses and locations, but did you know they also keep a record of gas prices? All you need to do is search for “gas station” or tap one of the dedicated search buttons, and both navigation apps will bring up a list of gas stations in your local area.
You can’t sort by gas price, but you can tap each result and see what fuel they sell and how much they cost per gallon. Plus, since both apps are designed for navigation, it only takes a single tap to get directions. Google Maps is also set to choose the most energy-efficient route by default, saving you money by using less gas.
Sadly Apple Maps doesn’t seem to offer this feature, though both Google Maps and Waze are freely available on iPhones.
Download Google Maps for Android | iOS
Download Waze for Android | iOS
Use Upside
(Image credit: Upside)
If you want to be able to do more than just compare the price of gas, then Upside (iOS, Android) is something you might want to consider. The app gives you the ability to compare gas prices around you, but that’s not its main purpose. Instead, it’s built around cashback rewards and discounts — valid for fuel, groceries and restaurants.
The idea with Upside is that you earn money every time you fill up with gas. While prices may initially be higher than nearby gas stations, the fact that you’re reclaiming it after the fact could make all the difference. The cashback can then be redeemed as a gift card, PayPal payment, or sent directly to your bank account.
Download GetUpside for Android | iOS
Other ways to save on gasGet a Costco or Sam’s Club membership
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Buying in bulk at Costco or Sam’s Club is already a great way to save money, but did you know signing up for a membership can also get you a discount on gas?
You can find Costco and Sam’s Club locations across the United States, and a bunch of them also have member-exclusive gas pumps, which are generally cheaper than the rest of the local area. How much you’ll actually pay will vary from location to location.
Sam’s Club (or the pricier Walmart Plus) membership gets you up to $0.05 off a gallon of fuel, provided you don’t live in New Jersey. Apparently, selling discounted fuel to members is against the law there. Sam’s Club Mastercard holders will also earn 5% cashback on all gas purchases. Sam’s Club membership starts at $50 a year.
Meanwhile, Costco sells fuel at wholesale prices and manages to offer gas that’s consistently cheaper than what you’d pay elsewhere. Daily prices at each warehouse are listed on Costco’s website. The cheapest Costco membership is “Gold Star,” and costs $65 a year for two membership cards.
That means you and one other person can save on gas for a whole year, while also gaining the ability to shop in Costco stores around the world. Don’t forget about the $1.50 hot dogs either.
Sign up for a Costco membership here
Sign up for a Sam’s Club membership here
Buy gas on the right day
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Believe it or not, you may actually be able to save money on gas by buying your fuel on specific days of the week. Combined with some of the other methods for finding cheap gas near you, you could rake in some serious savings.
A recent survey by GasBuddy found that average gas prices were typically lower on Sundays across the majority of the United States. Monday was the second cheapest, on average, while Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are the two most expensive days to refuel.
Consider an EV or hybrid
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While it’s counterproductive to tell people to ditch gas entirely, the constant fluctuation of prices can make the prospect of owning an electric car or a hybrid more enticing.
Electricity is also considerably cheaper than gasoline, even with the rising price of oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels. In fact, there are tools online that can estimate more precise savings based on how much you drive, your car’s fuel efficiency and how much it would actually cost you to refuel.
Electric cars aren’t an option for a lot of people, even if studies have shown that EVs are more cost-effective in the long term. For some, it’s the cost of the car itself, and for others, the lack of private parking makes charging considerably more difficult and expensive. In that case, it might be worth picking up a hybrid instead.
That could be a standard hybrid or a plug-in hybrid; both models have their respective pros and cons and the potential benefits will depend on your circumstances. To help you decide, we have crunched the numbers and worked out whether hybrids are actually worth the cost.
Make a point of driving more economically
No matter how much money you can save on a tank of gas, your best way to save money is to make each drop last as long as possible. The fewer fill-ups you need, the less money you will spend in the long term. That means learning to drive more economically.
We have a full list of tips on how to improve your gas mileage, but here are some tips to be aware of.
Avoid speeding, since fuel economy dives 50mphAvoid hard acceleration and harsh brakingChoose energy-efficient routes with apps like Google MapsEngage your car’s eco modeMinimize climate control where possible. Heated seats use less power than the heaterKeep your tires inflated, since flat tires increase dragDump the excess weight and external accessories that affect aerodynamics — like bike barsAvoid engine idlingDon’t make unnecessary trips, and walk where possible
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