We recently finished a three-month road trip across the United States clocking in at just under 10,000 miles. That’s a lot of mileage. And with gas rates skyrocketing, it’s a lot of dough too! Luckily, we’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way to ease the pain at the pump. Here are our six travel hacks on how to save on gas.
Can you believe our Minivan-Turned-Campervan gets 30 highway miles per gallon?
Click here to see our setup!
1. Use a Cash-Back Credit Card
If you’re going to be dropping mega bucks on gas, you might as well get reimbursed for some of it!
The trick to picking the right credit card is to choose one that will give you cash back on gas station purchases, as well as groceries, restaurants, and other spending.
We use the Cashback Rewards Plus American Express credit card. It gives 5% cash back on gas, up to $3,000 per year, 2% back for groceries, and 1% cash back on all other qualifying purchases.
Unfortunately, the general public does not have access to this card.
To be eligible for any USAA card, you must have a USAA membership which is only offered to current or former military members.
Another card we use is this no annual fee credit card because it is an all-in-one option.
The Signature Cash Visa rewards 5% on office supplies and internet and phone services, 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants for the first $25,000 spent, and 1% on everything else. It works on international purchases as well with no foreign transaction fees.
There are many credit cards out there nowadays, just make sure you are utilizing the best one for your particular situation.
Full Disclosure: Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links and will provide me with a commission at no additional cost to you.
2. Download a Free App to Find the Cheapest Gas
GasBuddy, available on Apple and Android devices, helps save money on gas by crowdsourcing real-time prices. You can search by current location or by clicking on the map.
We are always on the lookout for apps to save on gas, and GasBuddy continues to be our go-to – not only on road trips but at home as well.
It’s a powerful and easy tool to find the best prices in the area and no account is necessary.
Looking for other ways to save money?
Here are my 50 Easy Tips on How to Save Money
3. Join a Fuel Rewards Program
Another quick tip on how to save on gas is signing up for a fuel rebate program like Shell, where Gold Status Members receive $0.05 off on every fill-up.
Bonus: If you have T-Mobile, you can also download the T-Mobile Tuesday app to get promo codes for an additional $0.05 to $0.20 off at Shell up to 20 gallons.
You achieve Gold Status instantly when you sign up for the first six months of your membership. To maintain it, you will need to use the rewards account at least six times every three months.
Since the reward programs are free to join, you can sign up for multiple accounts. Other noteworthy programs include BPme Rewards and Exxon Mobil Rewards.
4. Buy Discounted Gift Cards
Did you know you can buy gas gift cards at a discounted rate on sites like Raise?
Along with various retail stores and restaurants, you’ll also find familiar gas stations like Shell, Speedway, BP, and Conoco listed at discounted prices.
And the majority of the time, the “cards” are electronic so no need to worry about carrying around a physical card. As a bonus for signing up right now, Raise is offering 15% off sitewide.
5. Always Use GPS to Avoid Slow-Downs
I used to make fun of my husband (okay, maybe I still do sometimes) when he would turn on the GPS to go to the grocery store 10 minutes away.
But the reality is, these days, any accident or road construction can end up with me sitting in my car idling away money.
Plan your route ahead of time and use GPS like Google Maps to avoid slow-downs, traffic, or unforeseen accidents.
Every penny counts at the pump! I hope this helps you offset the rising cost of fuel this year so you can go further for less.
6. Optimize Your Vehicle
There are a few other ways to increase gas mileage by optimizing your vehicle.
Take your roof rack off when not using it, make sure you are not carrying around any unnecessary weight in the car, and check to make sure your tires are fully inflated.
Other articles you might enjoy:
- 15 Travel Hacks to Make Your Next Trip Cheaper
- How to Easily Track Travel Expenses and More
- How to Get Mail on the Road
Do you have any other tips on how to save on gas? Share with us in the comments below…
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