You probably won’t find cheap gas any time soon, but you may be able to get it for less. Travel apps can help you find low price gas, and fuel reward programs can give you discounts for being a loyal customer. But gas is not the only vehicle expense that can empty your wallet.
Even affordable tires and auto insurance can cost hundreds of dollars. A cheap place to buy tires and vehicle coverage might be closer than you think when comparing prices online. Find out how to get auto discounts on fuel, parts, and insurance.
You can often get discounts on gas by taking advantage of reward programs. Gas rewards programs let you earn free items and cheaper fuel when you purchase at specific gas stations. Plus, some programs give you points for everyday purchases and shopping online.
A gas rewards card works like any store loyalty program. You just scan your card or type in your phone number so the transaction records on your account. After a certain number or value of purchases, the program rewards you with gas discounts or redeemable points.
Shell Fuel Rewards is a two-tier program that reduces fuel prices per gallon and offers other benefits. Silver Status can save you three cents per gallon, and Gold Status saves you five cents per gallon.
Shell gives you Gold Status for the first six months. Then, you need to purchase at least five gallons of gas six times every three months to maintain your Gold Status.
Your Shell Fuel Rewards account is connected to one of your debit or credit cards, and you receive rewards for using your card as you typically would. The program gives you additional ways to earn rewards, including:
· A 10-cent discount per gallon for every $50 spent at qualifying restaurants
· A 5-cent discount per gallon for every $50 spent on online shopping on qualifying brands
· A 10-cent discount per gallon for every $50 spent on live event tickets
· A 10-cent discount per gallon and 25% off the base rate for a rental car for every $50 spent on rental cars
Many other gas stations have gas rewards cards with similar rewards programs. Speedway Speedy Rewards gives you 10 points per gallon of gas and 20 points per dollar spent on in-store items.
You may be able to earn more points faster by shopping on the online Speedy Rewards Mall. The online store gives you more points per dollar for buying products from your favorite brands and stores.
Here are a few examples of Speedy Rewards:
· 1,650 points for a free two-liter bottle of soda
· 1,750 points for 10 cents off each gallon
· 12,000 points for a $10 fast-food gift card
BPme Rewards lets you save 5 cents a gallon if you spend at least $100 a month at BP and Amoco gas stations. For 99 cents a month, you can subscribe to Price Match and save up to 5 cents per gallon if a nearby competitor has a lower price.
Exxon Mobile Rewards+ gives you three points per gallon of fuel you buy and two points for every dollar you spend on car washes and in the convenience store. Points match cents, so 100 points are $1 to use in the store or at the pump.
But the best cheap fuel cards won’t save you much if you do not frequent those gas stations. And you won’t save fuel by driving across town to fill up.
You might be able to find the cheapest gas station by using travel apps like GasBuddy and Waze to check nearby gas prices. If there is a place you go to often or consistently has cheap gas, check to see if it has a rewards program.
You need gas to power your vehicles, but you also need tires to drive them. Fortunately, you can find affordable new and used tires if you know where and when to shop.
