How to leverage GasBuddy to stay ahead of summer fuel price hikes

In recent months, gas prices have remained consistently high. While some regions have seen price stabilization, the national average is still significantly higher than before, making both commutes and road trips pricier.

Fortunately, you can cut down on gas expenses by signing up for loyalty programs provided by major gas companies. Typically, discounts are calculated per gallon of gas purchased. However, frequent travelers must juggle accounts with different gas companies and remember to input their loyalty numbers at the pump.

This is where GasBuddy becomes essential.

GasBuddy is a platform that helps you locate the cheapest gas options in your vicinity. Even more appealing, its Pay with GasBuddy feature allows you to save up to 40 cents per gallon when using its prepaid gas card. No codes or complicated steps are necessary — simply pay with your GasBuddy card.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about saving on gas using GasBuddy. I’ll begin with an introduction to the app, followed by several strategies to maximize your savings.

Ways to save on gas using GasBuddy

You can save on gas with the GasBuddy app in a few different ways. Here are three effective methods.

1. Locate the best gas prices in your area

The GasBuddy app displays gas prices from all nearby stations, helping you snag the best fuel deal. Simply download the app, allow it to access your location, and a list of nearby gas stations will populate in the center of your screen, showing their prices. You can filter the options at the top to select your preferred fuel type and set the distance you're willing to travel for gas.

There's also a map feature available that lets you locate gas stations in your vicinity along with their pricing details.

Select a gas station to view its prices for different fuel types. GasBuddy uses crowdsourced data for pricing, so it may not always reflect the exact figures. However, I’ve noticed that most stations update their prices at least once daily, and the last updated time is shown below the price.

With a bit of foresight, you can significantly cut costs on long journeys where frequent refueling is necessary. So, leverage GasBuddy while planning your road trips to discover the best gas deals.

2. Save on every gallon with Pay with GasBuddy

You can boost your savings even further by using Pay with GasBuddy. When you enroll in this service, you’ll receive a prepaid gas card accepted at numerous gas stations nationwide. This card connects to your checking account, automatically withdrawing funds each time you fill up.

You’ll save on every gallon you pump, with savings varying depending on your location. Free members can enjoy discounts of up to 25 cents per gallon, as illustrated in the screenshot above.

By signing up for GasBuddy Premium, you can save as much as 40 cents per gallon. This service is priced at $9.99 per month and ensures a minimum savings of 20 cents per gallon for up to 50 gallons each month. Additionally, you’ll gain access to 24/7 roadside assistance from Allstate and exclusive GasBack offers (more details on that soon).

Enroll in Pay with GasBuddy through the app or on GasBuddy's website. Set up an account, apply for the card, and expect it to arrive by mail within a week. You’ll need to provide details such as your address, date of birth, and full name, along with linking a bank account.

To discover participating gas stations and check your savings with Pay with GasBuddy, open the app and browse through the list of gas stations. Look for "Deal Alerts" in red above stations that participate in Pay with GasBuddy and offer discounts. The discount amount will be displayed next to the label, as seen with the 76 station in the first screenshot.

To activate the discount, simply tap on the station’s name and then select the "Activate Discount" button at the bottom of the screen (as illustrated in the second screenshot).

When you arrive at the station, swipe your GasBuddy card. Your checking account will be billed for the gas purchase after applying the discount shown in the app.

3. Boost your savings with GasBack

You can also cut down on gas expenses by earning GasBack through the GasBuddy app. Essentially, GasBack is the company’s shopping portal that gives you gas credit when you shop at participating retailers. Each retailer offers a different percentage of GasBack based on your total purchase amount. For instance, Old Navy gives you 3% GasBack on your purchases. You can use your GasBack rewards to offset gas purchases made with Pay with GasBuddy.

To earn rewards, launch the GasBuddy app before shopping online and navigate to the Savings tab. Search for your retailer and tap on it. Hit the Shop Now button at the bottom of the screen and proceed with your online purchase as you normally would. Your GasBack will be credited to your account once the retailer confirms the transaction.

Always compare GasBack earnings against the cash back or points you could receive from other shopping portals. For instance, it might be more beneficial to earn through Rakuten if it's offering a higher cash back rate (or American Express Membership Rewards points) than the GasBack portal. You can check shopping portal earning rates with an aggregator like Cash Back Monitor.

Optimizing Pay with GasBuddy

However, the savings don’t end there. There are several ways to enhance your GasBuddy savings by combining them with other rewards programs or by opting for GasBuddy Premium. Let’s explore this further.

Accumulate Shop Your Way rewards points

A simple way to enhance your GasBuddy savings is by earning Shop Your Way points through Pay with GasBuddy. Instead of receiving immediate discounts at the pump, you will accumulate a specific number of Shop Your Way points each time you fill up. These points can be redeemed for discounts on products at Sears and Kmart or for gift cards at select retailers like American Airlines and Hotels.com.

You will earn Shop Your Way points at the following rates:

• $0.30 per gallon in points for paid fill-ups during the first 60 days after linking your account with Shop Your Way, which translates to 30 points per gallon.
• $0.15 per gallon in points for all subsequent paid fill-ups, equivalent to 15 points per gallon.

Given that the savings from instant discounts can vary, you might benefit more from earning a fixed rate of 15 points per gallon with GasBuddy. This effectively secures a savings rate of 15 cents per gallon that you can use toward gift cards at your preferred merchants.

For a comprehensive overview of how to earn Shop Your Way points with GasBuddy, be sure to check out our complete guide on this partnership.

Consider joining GasBuddy Premium if you frequently drive.

If you have a lengthy commute or are planning a long road trip, enrolling in GasBuddy Premium could be beneficial. This subscription service, which costs $9.99 per month, allows you to save up to 40 cents per gallon. It also ensures a minimum savings of 20 cents per gallon at all gas stations that accept Pay with GasBuddy.

Enrolling in this program may be worthwhile if you anticipate driving significantly during the month. Crunch the numbers ahead of time to make sure the savings you receive will outweigh the subscription cost. The program also includes additional benefits like roadside assistance and exclusive GasBack offers.

Combine with gas loyalty programs for added savings.

One great feature of Pay with GasBuddy is its compatibility with other fuel rewards programs. For instance, you can still input your Shell FuelRewards number when using your Pay with GasBuddy account. FuelRewards Gold members receive a discount of 5 cents per gallon at Shell stations, allowing GasBuddy Premium members to potentially save up to 45 cents per gallon at select gas stations.

Should you prefer Pay with GasBuddy over using a credit card?

A drawback of using Pay with GasBuddy is the lack of credit card points earned at the pump. This occurs because, similar to a debit card, your checking account is charged directly for your gas purchase. Depending on the cards you have, it may still be beneficial to use GasBuddy even without earning points, particularly if you're accumulating Shop Your Way points instead.

At the time of this writing, the AAA national average gas price is $4.14 per gallon. If you fill up with 5 gallons of gas and spend $20.70, you'll earn 100 Shop Your Way points, equivalent to $1.00 toward gift cards. This represents a 5% return on your purchase when you redeem points for gift cards. Alternatively, if the station provides a 10-cent discount per gallon, you would save $0.50 instantly.

Alternatively, you could charge the $20.70 expense to a Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, which offers 4% cash back at U.S. gas stations for the first $7,000 spent annually. This would net you about $0.82 in cash back on this transaction, which is less than what you'd save with GasBuddy.

Another option is to use the Citi Premier® Card (check rates and fees), as it earns three ThankYou points for every dollar spent at gas stations. TPG values these points at 1.8 cents each, translating to $1.08 worth of points. Depending on how you redeem them, you might increase their value. In my case, I would prefer to charge this expense to my Citi card since I intend to redeem Citi ThankYou points this summer.

I carry both my Pay with GasBuddy card and my Citi Premier card, quickly calculating which offers the better deal. If gas prices are low and Pay with GasBuddy provides a discount of 6 cents or more per gallon, I'll use my GasBuddy card at the pump. Otherwise, I charge pricier gas purchases to my Citi Premier card, as it offers a better 5.1% return with three times the earning rate.

Final thoughts

Using GasBuddy can significantly help you save on gas this summer. Be sure to download the app and request a Pay with GasBuddy card before your next major road trip, and remember to combine it with other fuel rewards programs. Every little bit helps during times of high prices and gas shortages.

Featured image by Everyonephoto Studio/Shutterstock.com.