How much does it cost to fill up your car with gas? If you drive your car as much as the average person does, it’s likely too much. However, there are ways to get free gas at the pump and keep more money in your pocket.
These options work for in town driving and road trips. If you want know how to get free gas, or save money at the pump, our guide shows a few of the top ways to keep more in your budget.
Legit Ways to Get Free Gas
The cost of gas varies depending on where you live, so it impacts people differently. The average national price for a gallon of gas is $4.31, as of our publication date, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
If you have an 18-gallon tank, that equals $77.58. If you have a larger tank or pay more per gallon, the price will be higher. Regardless, the cost adds up quickly.
Believe it or not, there are ways to get gas for free and save money. It’s possible all options won’t work for you, but most people can find at least one way to save money.
1. Get Free Gas Cards Online Through Swagbucks
One of the best ways to get free gas money is to earn it during your spare time. Swagbucks is a terrific choice, as you can earn gas cards as a cash-out option.
Swagbucks is a get-paid-to (GPT) site that pays you to perform various tasks online. You can earn rewards in numerous ways on Swagbucks, including:
- Using their online shopping portal
- Playing games online
- Watching sponsored videos
- Taking surveys
- Using their search engine
For every 100 SB points you earn, you can receive $1. You can trade in the points you earn for gift cards, including gas cards.
Right now, you can get gas station gift cards for Exxon, Chevron, and Sunoco. You can also redeem cash via PayPal or a Visa gift card and use it at any gas station of your choice if these retailers aren’t available in your area.
2. Join A Gas Station Loyalty Program
A gas station loyalty program is one of the best ways to save money at the pump.
These programs allow you to earn cash back or points to redeem for discounts.
Most larger grocery stores offer rewards programs. If you live near stores like Safeway, Price Chopper, Kroger, Winn-Dixie, Hy-Vee, Giant Eagle, and Fred Meyer you can join for free.
We love the Fuel Saver program Hy-Vee offers and often saved $.10 or $.20 per gallon on gas. We can fuel up to 20 gallons at that discounted rate.
Best of all, we get these discounts just by doing our regular shopping at Hy-Vee.
*Related: Do you need to replace a key? Read our guide on the best places to get keys made near me for cheap.*
Other programs work similarly. Here are a few others you could take advantage of:
- Safeway – Get $0.10 off per gallon of gas for every $100 you spend, up to 25 gallons.
- Kroger – Get one point for every dollar you spend for up to $0.10 off per gallon with a 25-gallon maximum. You can stack deals and get extra points during promotional periods.
- Harris Teeter – Receive $0.10 off per gallon of gas for every 100 points you earn, up to 35 gallons. You can earn one point for each dollar spent, two points for each dollar spent on gift cards, and 50 points for qualifying prescription fills.
- Price Chopper – Receive $0.10 off per gallon of gas for every $100 you spend, up to 20 gallons. You can also stack deals to get more money off gas prices.
- Fred Meyer – Receive one point for every dollar spent and get $0.10 off per gallon of gas for every $100 you spend, up to 35 gallons.
If your local store doesn’t offer a loyalty program, just ask. Additionally, you can use the Upside app to receive a rebate of up to $0.25 per gallon of gas. Use the code FRUGALRULES25 to qualify.
Read our Upside review to learn more.
3. Buy Discounted Gift Cards
While this option isn’t necessarily free, discounted gift cards help you receive a few free dollars worth of gas.
Raise is an online store that buys and sells gift cards, which they typically discount, to save you up to 10 percent off. If you buy $100 worth of gas cards, for example, you spend just $90.
The typical gas cards available on Raise are Shell, Speedway, and BP. If you’re a new customer, you can get up to $20 off your first order.
That could mean almost 30 percent off your gas costs.
4. Take Surveys Online
Besides Swagbucks, there are a few other survey sites that can help you earn money to offset your fuel costs.
Survey Junkie is a great way to get free gas. The biggest perk with Survey Junkie is that you can also redeem your points for cash which you can spend on anything.
Like Swagbucks, you can earn your points on Survey Junkie by taking surveys. Read our Survey Junkie review to learn how to take online surveys on the platform.
InboxDollars is also a survey site. However, my favorite way to earn cash is to read the emails they send, play games, and watch videos.
While InboxDollars has a higher cash-out threshold at $30, it’s still a legitimate rewards site. Read our InboxDollars review to learn more about the platform.
5. Use Credit Card Rewards
Do you use rewards credit cards? Redeeming your points or rewards for free gas money can help in a pinch.
*Do you collect stickers, or love to decorate with them? Read our guide on how to get free stickers in the mail from companies and grow your collection.*
If your credit card offers reward points for spending, purchase gas cards. Or, redeem the points for cash, Visa gift cards, or PayPal, if offered.
You could also get cash back for paying for your gas with a credit card. This doesn’t automatically equal free gas, but it can mean a discount in the long run.
Only use this option if you pay off your credit cards each month. No rewards are worth the potential debt.
Here are some cards to consider if you want to use rewards to defray costs.
6. Salvation Army
If you’re struggling to make ends meet and need gas money, various charities, including the Salvation Army, offer free transportation and gas vouchers.
Other options include contacting other charities in your area, checking around with churches, or seeing if you have a Community Action Partnership program near you.
These programs help provide for transportation needs if you can’t afford it on your current budget. This is truly a free option, and you shouldn’t feel guilty for getting help if you need it.
7. Prepaid Gas Card Promotions
Do you have a specific station that you like to frequent? You can get free gas money by taking advantage of their gas cards.
You must watch for deals that they offer, but some retailers offer a free fill-up, money off, or even a discounted gas card during certain promotions.
For example, in my area, Casey’s and QuikTrip are the most popular stations. QuikTrip has their own credit card/prepaid card option where you can get a percentage off your regular fill-ups.
They also have promotions where you can get money off when you get the card and pay for your first fill up.
In some cases you might even be able to use the promotions to take advantage of cheap oil change prices at your local gas station.
Ways to Save Money on Gas
It’s not always possible to get free gas. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look for ways to save money at the pump.
Here are a few legit ways to reduce costs:
Drive Smarter: Speed and brake usage have a significant impact on fuel consumption. Avoid rapid acceleration and quick stops to conserve what’s in your tank.
Use the correct fuel: Premium gas brings a higher cost. If your car says it’s required, then you need to buy premium.
If it simply says it’s recommended, try lower grades to see how your car operates. The lower the grade, the less you spend.
Use your phone: Do you want to know how to find cheaper fuel? There are gas apps to use that help you locate cheaper gas. Find one you like and start looking for cheap gas around you.
If you have a AAA membership, don’t forget to use the app on your phone to make sure you identify all available opportunities to save.
Drive less: This may not always be a choice for you, but if you can walk or bike for short trips you will save money. It’s healthier too!
Avoid scams: These are less popular today, but free gas scams pop up from time to time.
They range from telemarketers saying you can get free petroleum to claims that scanning your driver’s license before using your credit card at the pump results in savings.
You can also buy a fuel-efficient car, but that may not always be an option. Using the above tips will help you save money.
Summary
Buying gas isn’t a choice for most of us, as we all depend on our cars for our livelihood. Saving money at the pump keeps more money in your budget to care for other needs.
You may not realize huge savings with each opportunity, but most add up over time. With a little work, it’s possible to get free gas at the pump and help relieve financial stress.
How much do you spend to fill up your car each month?
