Wondering how to get cheap gas despite high prices at the pump?

Hoping to save money on gas? 🚗

While gas prices aren’t at the highest levels we’ve ever seen, the cost of fueling up is still pretty steep. We’ve come a long way from June of 2022, when the average cost of regular unleaded was over $5 per gallon. 😱

Currently, the nationwide average is hovering at just over $3 per gallon, which still feels pretty pricey. And with the cost of nearly everything else soaring these days, it sure would be nice to save a little extra money at the gas pump!

With this in mind, we’re sharing our money-saving guide to help you get the most bang for your buck at the pump. Whether you’re fueling up for your daily commute or planning a budget-friendly road trip, here are some ways to get more miles for less money!

Here’s how to snag cheap gas:

1. Check your local grocery store promos first.

Watch for fuel promotions or even gift card deals at your local grocery store. Select grocers will sometimes team up with affiliated fuel stations to offer a gas discount whenever you shop at their store. Plus, some stores even offer double fuel rewards when you purchase gift cards!

Here are just a few stores that offer fuel perks with your store loyalty card:

• Albertsons: Earn one point for every $1 spent on groceries or pharmacy items and two points for every $1 spent on gift cards. Redeem points for up to $1 off per gallon.

• BJ’s Warehouse: BJ’s Gas has super-low gas prices every day! Plus, BJ’s One Mastercard holders save an additional 10¢ per gallon, while the One+ Mastercard holders get an additional 15¢ per gallon discount at BJ’s Gas stations.

• Fred Meyer: Earn one fuel point for every $1 you spend on groceries, plus 25 points for every qualifying prescription you fill at the pharmacy. Redeem 100 points for a 10¢ discount, for up to $1 off per gallon.

• Giant Eagle: Earn one Perk for every $1 spent on groceries, gift cards, and out-of-pocket prescription costs, plus 2 Perks per gallon of gas at GetGo, 2 Perks per $1 spent on store brands, and 10 additional Perks per prescription! Every 100 Perks gets you 10¢ off per gallon of gas at GetGo!

• Hy-Vee: Hy-Vee PERKS members can earn discounts on gas when they buy special Fuel Saver promotional items marked with a special icon online, on store shelf signs, and in the weekly ad. Fuel discounts are then automatically loaded to the PERKS account with each eligible purchase.

• Kroger: Loyalty members earn one Fuel Point for every $1 spent on everyday purchases, and two Fuel Points for every $1 spent on gift cards. Each prescription filled earns 25 Fuel Points, too! Fuel Points can be redeemed at Kroger Family of Stores Fuel Centers and participating Shell locations

• Price Chopper: AdvantEdge Rewards members can earn 5¢ off per gallon (up to 20 gallons) at Sunoco after spending $100 at Price Chopper. Fuel savings are awarded on a 5-tier scale, maxing out at 25¢ per gallon with a $500 spend.

• Redner’s: Redner’s Rewards members can redeem a 5¢ per gallon discount after spending $50 at Redner’s Markets (up to a 20-gallon fuel fill-up). Just insert your Redner’s Rewards card at one of the Redner’s fuel partner sites to apply the savings.

• Sam’s Club: While the discount varies by location, Sam’s Club members report saving 15¢ – 30¢ per gallon compared to local competitors.

• Safeway: Safeway for U members can earn one point for every $1 spent on groceries and two points for every $1 spent on gift cards. Then, points can be redeemed for 10¢ to $1 off per gallon of gas.

• Shop ‘n Save: At Shop ‘n Save, Pump Perks members can earn 1¢ off per gallon at participating Sunoco stations for every $5 spent on qualifying items.

• Stop & Shop: Stop & Shop GO Rewards members earn one point for every $1 spent. Then, they can save 10¢ per gallon for every 100 points received (with a maximum discount of $1.50 per gallon).

• Weis Market: Earn 10¢ off per gallon at Sunoco or Weis Gas n’ Go when you spend $100 at Weis Market (maximum discount of $1 per gallon).

Don’t see your store listed above? Be sure to ask in-store or check their website, as many stores with fuel stations offer rewards programs or even credit cards with exclusive savings.

2. Watch for deals on gas gift cards.

Another way to save at the pump is to watch for gift card promotions at your local grocery store or at drugstores like CVS and Walgreens, especially during the holidays. You may also find discounted gas gift cards at sites like Raise.com, Gift Card Granny, or Groupon.

Also, it’s important to note that some gas stations may offer a lower price if you pay with cash instead of a credit card! The difference between the cash and credit price usually ranges between 5¢ and 15¢ per gallon.

3. Save on Top Tier gas by filling up at Costco gas stations.

Are you a Costco member? Get the most out of your membership by filling up while you’re there, because you’ll save money and get quality gas. Costco sells only Top Tier detergent gasoline, the fuel recommended by dealerships and manufacturers, so it cleans your engine with every fill-up.

Plus, the average gas price at Costco is consistently lower than competitors!

Sam’s Club sells discounted gas too, but it does not meet the Top Tier standard because it uses a blend with fewer detergents.

4. Find the cheapest gas near you using gas apps.

Download free gas apps to find the cheapest gas near you, because driving around town to find the cheapest gas defeats the whole purpose!

Here are a few reputable apps we like:

• Upside: New Upside users can score a RARE $5 off ANY $10+ purchase on gas, restaurants, grocery, convenience store, & more when you apply the promo code HIP2SAVE5 to your app! 🔥

• Gas Buddy: With Gas Buddy, you’ll save a minimum of 3¢ per gallon everywhere Mastercard is accepted, and 5¢ per gallon at select stations. It’s even possible to save up to 33¢ per gallon with an activated Deal Alert! The Pay with GasBuddy card links to your bank account and provides immediate savings at the pump, so there’s no waiting for rebates.

• Fuelly: Want to track and compare your gas mileage? Fuelly is a handy mobile app (iOS or Android) and website that helps you calculate your vehicle’s fuel economy. Tracking your usage over time can help you monitor changes to your driving habits and keep tabs on the health of your vehicle.

5. Join your local station’s loyalty program.

If you normally fuel up at the same gas station every time, then it may be a good idea to join their rewards program. Here are a few of the better gas station loyalty programs available nationwide:

• Exxon Mobil Rewards+: Exxon Mobil Rewards+ members save at least 3¢/gal on fuel and 2¢ per dollar spent in-store on snacks, drinks, and more. Plus, you can earn up to 30¢ per gallon in points on your first five fill-ups if you enroll before October 15th, 2025!

• Murphy USA:  Murphy Drive Rewards is a free, app-based loyalty program offered by Murphy USA. Members can earn points with their purchases and redeem their points for up to $1 off per gallon at the pump (up to 20 gallons).

• Shell Fuel Rewards: New Shell Fuel Rewards members who enroll by October 31st, 2025, can save 10¢ per gallon on their first fill, 20¢ per gallon on their second fill, and 30¢ per gallon on their third fill at participating Shell stations. After that, your savings will vary between 3¢ and 10¢ off per gallon, depending on your membership tier.

• Speedy Rewards: Speedy Rewards members earn 10 points per gallon of fuel and 20 points per $1 of merchandise. Members can then redeem their points for discounted gas or purchases from inside the convenience store.

6. Re-evaluate your premium gas habit.

Does filling up your car with premium gas give you the sense that you’re filling your car with liquid gold? Well, some cars require premium gas, but others simply carry a recommendation that owners use it. This means you may be paying more than necessary every time you fill up.

Consumer Reports tested the fuel economy and acceleration of two cars with both regular and premium gasoline, and they found that both vehicles achieved the same fuel economy and performance regardless of the grade of fuel used.

Based on these results, you may feel comfortable using regular unleaded gas, even if the manufacturer recommends using premium gas. But be sure to check the inside of your fuel-filler door or the owner’s manual and do your own research before making the switch.

7. Know the best times to fill up.

Fill up your tank when it’s coolest outside (early in the morning or late at night) and avoid the heat of the day as much as possible. Why? The fuel is denser at those times, so you’ll get a little more gas for the same amount of money.

It’s also best to avoid filling up an empty tank during a holiday or on the weekend when people are doing more driving (that’s when gas stations are likely to raise their prices).

8. Leave extra items at home.

Been toting around items for Goodwill in the back of your trunk for a few months? Or carry sports equipment in your car? 🙋🏼‍♀️ Even an additional 100 pounds in your car can reduce gas mileage by up to two percent.

Note that the reduction is relative to the vehicle’s weight, so smaller vehicles are more affected by increased weight than larger ones. Still, for every 100 pounds in extra weight, you can plan on spending up to 6¢ more per gallon. Yikes! Ditch the stuff you don’t need – especially the heavy items!

9. Waiting? Turn off the car.

If you live in a mild climate, this tip may work for you! The California Energy Commission (CEC) advises that vehicles should be turned off if your expected wait time will be longer than 10 seconds. An idling vehicle can burn as much as one gallon of gas each hour, so turning the car off can save about 5¢ per minute. Every little bit adds up!

10. Don’t always take the car.

This tip might seem a little silly, but hey! Before jumping in the car to drop your kids off at a friend’s house or head to the corner store, consider walking or hopping on a bike instead. Not only will you save on gas, but you’ll burn calories, enjoy the great outdoors, and reduce emissions, too! 😉

11. Avoid aggressive driving.

Safe driving should already be a priority for everyone who gets behind the wheel, but if you need a little extra motivation, taking it slow will save you money on gas!

Fuel efficiency is negatively affected at speeds above 60 miles per hour. Slamming on the brakes and accelerating too quickly can waste gas, too. So, drive like your driver’s ed teacher is watching. You’re more likely to arrive at your destination safely, and your wallet will thank you, too!

12. Keep your tires inflated & wheels aligned.

A little vehicle maintenance can go a long way towards improving your car’s gas mileage. Because tires may naturally lose air over time, it’s important to check the pressure on ALL of your tires, including your spare, at least once a month.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can improve your gas mileage by 0.6% on average (up to 3% in some cases!) by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.

Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer, so you’ll definitely want to make sure you have a tire gauge in your glove box and know how to use it. If you don’t have a tire gauge and need air fast, you can actually fill up your tires using a bike pump, if you have one!

Also, be sure to check that your wheels are properly aligned and your tires are balanced. Misaligned wheels can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 10% (around 31¢ per gallon). Tires that are out of balance can cause uneven tire wear, which will not only reduce the life of your tires, but also result in lower gas mileage, too.

13. Check your air filter & spark plugs.

In addition to checking your tire pressure and alignment/balance, make sure your car has clean air filters so the airflow stays at the proper level to mix with the gasoline.

It has been estimated that replacing your dirty air filter will increase miles per gallon on the car by up to 10%. It also generates fuel savings of close to 15¢ per gallon at the fuel pump!

14. If you have T-Mobile, check those T-Mobile Tuesday offers – sometimes it’s discounted gas!

We’re always sharing the latest T-Mobile Tuesday deal, and sometimes they have gas discounts! Many people who have T-Mobile forget to check, but sometimes there are some seriously awesome offers available.

15. Don’t bother warming up your car.

If you live in a colder area, you’re probably spending a few minutes heating up your vehicle. Believe it or not, your car doesn’t need more than a minute to heat up!

Waiting any longer could actually waste fuel and cause excess engine wear, according to AAA.

16. Refill your tank early in the week.

In most areas of the country, Mondays and Tuesdays are generally the cheapest days of the week to fill up your gas tank. The worst days are Thursday through Saturday, due to the surge pricing associated with weekend travel.

This information is based on data collected by Gas Buddy from over 150,000 gas stations. With gas prices always fluctuating, this advice isn’t guaranteed to get you the best price, but it’s certainly something to keep in mind!

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