Rising fuel costs, driven by global events, are making driving more expensive. From daily commutes to summer vacations, saving at the pump is more important than ever. GasBuddy is an app designed to help you find the cheapest gas nearby, and its Pay with GasBuddy+ feature can offer savings of up to 20 cents per gallon. Here’s how to maximize your savings:
Finding the Cheapest Gas Prices
The GasBuddy app displays real-time gas prices at nearby stations, allowing you to quickly identify the lowest cost. The app requires location access and lets you filter by fuel type and desired driving distance. A map view is also available for a broader overview.
Prices are crowdsourced, meaning accuracy isn’t guaranteed, but stations are usually updated daily. GasBuddy also alerts users to flash deals, sometimes requiring station-specific memberships like Fuel Rewards. This is particularly useful when traveling in unfamiliar areas where prices can vary wildly.
Maximizing Savings with Pay with GasBuddy+
GasBuddy+ links to your bank account and provides a Mastercard for use at the pump. This triggers automatic discounts where available.
There are two tiers:
– Standard (Free): Guarantees at least 3 cents per gallon savings, with potential discounts up to 25 cents.
– Premium ($9.99/month or $99/year): Promises at least 20 cents per gallon (first 50 gallons monthly, then 5 cents), plus 24-hour roadside assistance (twice annually).
The Premium tier is worthwhile for high-mileage drivers. Before subscribing, calculate whether the savings outweigh the monthly fee.
Stacking Discounts for Maximum Value
One of GasBuddy+’s strengths is its compatibility with existing fuel rewards programs. For example, Fuel Rewards Platinum members already save 10 cents per gallon at Shell stations. Combining this with a GasBuddy Premium discount could yield over 30 cents in savings per gallon at some locations.
The app also offers GasBuddy Rewards, earning points through surveys, games, and receipts. These points can be redeemed for gift cards or further gas discounts if you’re a GasBuddy+ member (2,000 points = 10 cents off per gallon).
Pay with GasBuddy+ vs. Credit Card Rewards
Using GasBuddy+ means paying with a debit-like card, foregoing credit card rewards. However, depending on your credit cards and GasBuddy savings, it may still be more efficient.
For instance, the Citi Strata℠ Card offers 3 ThankYou points per dollar spent on gas (worth roughly 5.7% based on current valuations). If GasBuddy offers 6 cents or more off, using the app could make more sense. Keep both options in your wallet and compare before each fill-up.
In short, GasBuddy is a valuable tool for reducing fuel costs, especially during periods of high prices. Download the app, request a Pay with GasBuddy+ card, and combine it with other loyalty programs for maximum savings.
