How to Save Money on Gas – Easy Ways to Save on Gas

With gas prices rising every day, most people are feeling the pinch whenever they reach the pump. Among the most affected are road trippers, daily commuters, and enthusiastic drivers. As a result, most people are spending more time online googling cheap gas near me or looking for ideas on how they can save on gas.

At the current gas prices, you could end up spending thousands of dollars per year on gas if you’re not watchful about your fuel bills. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gas is at an all-time high, selling at $4.624 in June 2022. That’s quite an increase when you compare it to the previous year, and there’s no indication that the gas prices will subside.

Fortunately, there are several tricks that you can adopt to save on gas, including apps and fuel reward programs. If you follow them consistently, you could save significantly.

How to Save Money at the Gas Pump

The financial impact of fueling automobiles might get worse before things get back to normal. Therefore, car owners and drivers need to find ways to reduce the money they spend on gas. The tricks presented herein will show you how to accomplish that, including how to get better gas mileage. Some proven ways include using best gas apps, credit card rewards, and fuel reward programs, among others.

Use Apps to Find the Best Deals on Gas

The spike in crude oil prices has caused gas prices to rise. However, you can rely on several gas apps to find and buy the cheapest gas. Motorists have long relied on apps such as Gas Guru and GasBuddy to buy gas at lower prices. Now that the price has gone higher, a lot of people have followed suit. Here are some of the best gas apps that can come to your rescue.

1. GasBuddy

GasBuddy is a popular gas app that has been around since 2000. To use GasBuddy, you must type in your ZIP code. After which, the app shows gas prices for different gas stations within your area. The app also provides a card that you can connect to your bank account. The card promises up to 25 cents off a gallon when you pay for gas at the pump.

2. Gas Guru

Gas Guru is also another app that indicates the gas prices in your location. While using the app, you can filter by the gas price, distance, and fuel grade. The Yellow Pages own Gas Guru, and it provides reliable data obtained from the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS). Apart from gas-related information, Gas Guru also shows you facilities near the gas station, such as an eatery or store.

3. Waze

Waze was established in 2008. However, the app has been owned by Google since 2013. You can rely on this app for your gas needs because it provides directions regarding how to get to a specific gas station. That notwithstanding, it includes a contactless payment feature at participating Shell and ExxonMobil gas stations. The feature allows you to pay for gas on your phone, making it one of the most reliable navigational apps.

4. GetUpside

GetUpside is a gas app that promises its users up to 25 cents off a gallon when they fuel at a pump. However, to get these savings, you must take a photo of your receipt in the app. Fortunately, you don’t need to furnish your bank account’s information to get these benefits. Additionally, the app lets you save up to 35 percent at restaurants and on groceries. It gives you cash back through a check, PayPal, or a digital gift card.

5. AAA TripTik® Planner

Initially, the AAA TripTik® Planner was only available to those with AAA paid memberships. But it is now available to anyone for free. The app is effective because it shows all the gas station and their prices in your location, and it has prices of up to 85,000 gas stations across the country. And it can also assist you in planning for road trips.

6. Gas Prices by MapQuest

MapQuest is one of the apps that’s been around for quite a while, which makes some motorists take it for granted. It was founded in 1996. Mostly, drivers use it to get from one place to another. But you can also use it to locate gas stations along the route and check the gas prices, allowing you to select the cheapest option. You can also use the app to get information on traffic on specific routes.

7. GEICO Mobile

GEICO Mobile is another reliable app for you to find pocket-friendly gas stations. The app features Augmented Reality (AR), which is accessible to everyone, including those who aren’t policyholders. GEICO Mobile has a gas finder, which shows gas stations’ addresses, real-time gas prices, and the distance from your current location. The feature also allows you to see things near your preferred gas station, such as restaurants.

Join a Fuel Rewards Program

Gas rewards programs are some of the easiest ways to cut your expenditure on fuel. Usually, these programs are tied to specific gas station brands and are free to join. All you have to do is identify top fuel rewards programs and join to enjoy the perks offered in specific locations. You can also join more than one program to enjoy more benefits, and some have reward points that rack up to give you free gas or merchandise.

1. BPme Rewards

The BPme rewards program has a mobile app that allows users to save up when they fill up their gas tanks. The rewards program lets you save 5 cents on every gallon when you register through the next month. After that, you get the same discount whenever you incur at least $100 on gas every month. You can also check the app for additional savings and bonuses you qualify for.

2. Exxon Mobil Rewards+

You might benefit from the rewards program if you regularly fuel at Exxon and Mobil stations. The Exxon Mobil Rewards+ program offers you 3 points for each gallon of fuel and 2 points for each dollar you spend in the gas station, car washes, and convenience stores. When you reach 100 points, you receive $1 off at the pump.

3. Shell Fuel Rewards

After joining the Shell Fuel Rewards, you get a 10-cents discount for each gallon when you spend $50 at participating restaurants linked to your card and when you spend on live event tickets. You also get a 5-cents discount for each gallon on every $50 you spend online at participating retailers. The rewards program has a silver status that you could use to cut gas prices by up to 3 cents a gallon and a gold status that knocks off 5 cents from a gallon.

4. Speedway Speedy Rewards

When you become a member of this rewards program, you get 10 points for each gallon of gas you purchase. You also get 20 points for every dollar you send on merchandise in Speedway stores. The program also has a mobile app. It lets you track your rewards and identify the items you qualify for bonus points in specific months.

5. Circle K Easy Rewards

The Circle K Easy Rewards program is free to join. When you sign up, you receive 10 points for each gallon of fuel you purchase. You’ll also rack up 20 points for each dollar you spend when buying food, snacks, and nonalcoholic drinks in Circle K stores. Once you rack up 2,000 points, you get to save $2 at the gas pump. The program also includes access to special offers and sweepstakes rewards.

6. Maverik’s Adventure Club and Nitro Cards

The Maverik’s Adventure Club and Nitro Cards program give you two rewards – the Nitro card and the Adventure Club. The Adventure Club gets you 2 cents off every gallon of gas you buy. The card also lets you earn Trail Points through in-store and fuel purchases. On the other hand, the Nitro card takes of 10 cents per gallon of the listed price. It also gets you 1X Trail Point for fuel purchases at the pump and 4X Trail Points from purchases.

7. Pilot Flying J Preferred Customer Rewards

This rewards program is mainly meant for RV and professional drivers. The program has a myRewards Plus app and a myRewards card. They let you save 3 cents for every gallon of gas you buy in addition to the points you accumulate with every in-store purchase. The program also comes with special promotions each month and gives you access to special offers once a year during your birthday month.

Additional Ways to Save on Gas

Apart from using the best gas apps and joining fuel rewards programs, there are other ways for you to save on gas. If you follow some of the methods herein, you’ll most likely feel a little pinch at the fuel pump, regardless of recent exorbitant gas prices. In the long run, these ways will help you save a lot of dollars.

1. Use a Credit Card with Gas Rewards

Although most people don’t prefer paying for gas with their credit cards, these cards have some perks. If you have a credit card that offers gas rewards, using it to pay for gas is beneficial. Some credit cards provide travel miles, while others offer cash back rewards. Others credit cards offer you extra points when you swipe at the gas pump, ending up saving you money.

2. Fill Up Early in the Week

With the current inflation rate, gas prices have been affected significantly. That means that the amount you pay at the start of the week may be less than that at the week’s end. Besides, gas prices vary from day to day. The wisest decision would be fueling at the right time – in this case, early in the week. Ensure to check the market indicators to know if the prices will hike.

3. Share Rides

To save on gas, you don’t have to drive your car to work every day. Instead, opt for rideshare services, which are offered by several companies, including Uber and Lyft. Sharing rides with other people means that you don’t spend any money at the gas pump. However, you need to assess your needs and your commute to determine the best option. If ridesharing proves cheaper, then you should settle for it.

4. Plan Routes

Planning your routes doesn’t necessarily mean taking the shortest distance from one point to another. Although this might save you money on gas, planning your route involves more. You need to take the most efficient route. The route that lets you avoid traffic, congestion, and construction sites. You can use apps such as Google Maps to plan your route ahead of time. Check the route that will save your gas expenses.

5. Slow down, Accelerate Slowly, and Coast More

Knowing how to drive doesn’t necessarily make you an efficient driver. To save on gas, you need to become an eco-driver. That requires you to slow down, accelerate slowly, and coast more. It would help if you accelerated slowly because revving your engine wastes gas significantly. Moreover, driving slower means less gas consumption. Additionally, coasting more lets you go easy on the pedals. Hard braking and abrupt starts often lead to more fuel consumption.

6. Use Cruise Control

Cruise control helps you maintain steady speeds when driving on flat terrain, allowing you to conserve fuel. However, cruise control on hilly terrain causes your car to consume a lot of gas as you accelerate up the hill. To save on gas, let your speed decrease when you go up a hill, then slowly accelerate as you drive downhill. You can also get a car with cruise control features.

7. Reduce Heater and AC

Most people use their car’s air conditioning unit to improve the driving atmosphere when it’s hot or cold. You may not know that your air conditioner could increase fuel consumption significantly, especially when driving in the city. Usually, the city has some traffic; therefore, driving there may require constant stopping, tempting you to switch on the AC. While in the city, consider rolling down your windows instead.

8. Check Tire Pressure

If you want to improve fuel efficiency, always check your tire pressure before driving. Properly inflating every tire can help you maximize the gas mileage. It would be best if you always ticked this in your checklist before leaving for work. Poorly inflated tires affect the performance of your car, resulting in poor gas mileage. That means that you’ll spend more at the gas pump because you’ll have to refuel frequently.

9. Use the Correct Oil

The engine oil is used to lubricate several parts of an engine. The oil helps to reduce friction, reducing unnecessary loss of power. Therefore, when you use the right oil, the engine will burn gas more effectively, enabling your car to perform better. You need to check your car’s manual to identify the engine oil specification. That way, you’ll only use the oil suited to your vehicle.

10. Consider a More Efficient Car

Another proven way to save on gas during the current price spike is driving a fuel-efficient car. Different vehicles have different consumption rates. Therefore, a car with a larger carbon capacity will consume more fuel compared to one with a lower carbon capacity. To save some money, you need to settle for a vehicle that delivers the best fuel economy. Before buying a car, check the specifications to determine its fuel consumption.

Summary

With the price of a gallon of gas as of June 2022 standing at $4.624, car owners and drivers have to find ways to save on gas. Besides looking for the cheapest gas stations in the areas you frequent, there are a number of other ways you could use to save on gas.

Notably, you can use apps, such as GasBuddy, Gas Guru, and Waze, to find great deals on gas. Alternatively, you can join fuel rewards programs, such as BPme rewards and Exxon Mobil Rewards+. These programs offer members special discounts and points based on their fuel purchases.

You can also save on gas by getting a fuel-efficient vehicle. Always be sure to check a car’s fuel economy before leasing or buying it. Additionally, train yourself to be an eco-driver. That means coasting more, driving slowly, and accelerating gently.

For more ways to save money, check out 21 Easy Ways to Save Money on a Tight Budget.