A carefully planned affordable trip that includes a review of cheap travel options, such as cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages can end up more costly than anticipated if you are not savvy to how to minimize the cost of gas when traveling.
The following are tips from Budget Travel that can save you considerable money at the pump:
Check gas prices across the country before finalizing your vacation. Fuel prices vary by as much as 25 percent. Check out GasBuddys Heat Map.
Sometimes it pays to leave the city limits and even the country when filling your gas tank. Americans in Border States have been known to drive to Mexico to fill up their tank because of Mexican government regulated gas prices. Filling a gas tank in downtown Seattle can cost as much as 15 percent more than 20 miles down the freeway.
Buy low octane gas unless your car specifically requires high octane fuel. As long as your cars owners manual says that premium gas is recommended but not required you car will most likely operate fine on low octane gas. Regular gas tends to be twenty to forty cents cheaper per gallon.
Sign up for a credit card that gives cash back on gas purchases. Many bank credit cards offer at least 2 percent cash back on gas purchases. If you regularly buy the same brand of gas, look into credit cards affiliated from specific gas companies that offer gas discounts.
Look into getting an App that will help you find cheap gas when you are unfamiliar with the area you will be driving in. The iGasUp app costs 99 cents and lists ten stations nearby with the cheapest gas as well as driving distances and directions for how to find them.
Membership warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sams Club often offer gas that is usually about 10 cents less per gallon than other gas stations in nearby. Local grocery store chains such as Price Chopper and Kroger offer free gas rewards programs, which often earn points for store purchases that can later be applied towards discounted gas.
By paying for your gas purchase in cash you can often save. Gas stations which offer lower prices for cash often offer discounts between 5 to 10 cents per gallon and sometimes even more. Independent gas stations were the first to start offering dual prices, but chains are now starting to participate. Chain gas stations usually offer the cash price for customers using their credit card.
www.cheapfares.com