How To Get Free Gas In 2024 [9 Creative Options To Try]

Gas Station Loyalty Programs

Many gas stations and wholesale clubs offer loyalty programs to help you fill the gas tank while saving money. Some of these companies include Costco, Shell, and Sam’s Club.

Here’s a breakdown of what they offer to help you cut gas costs:

1. Costco Gas Stations

Opting for cheap gas at Costco is one of the many strategies to help you cut oil expenses.

The company’s gas stations offer affordable fuel. It’s generally around 21 cents less than its competitors. Despite these prices, Costco’s oil is of top-notch quality.

However, there’s a catch. To tap into these savings, you need to use a membership card. Typically, that costs from $60 to $120 annually. Still, fueling at these gas stations is worth the money you’ll save!

2. Sam’s Club

Another wholesale company offering discounts on gas is Sam’s Club. Like Costco, you need to join the membership to access these benefits. That can cost $50 or $110 annually, depending on the plan.

Now, for the big question: how much gas money will you save with Sam’s Club?

Generally, you can save a minimum of 0.05 cents per gallon. Plus, you can receive 5% back as Sam’s Cash!

3. Shell Fuel Rewards

Warehouse stores aren’t the only companies offering gas discounts for members—gas stations, like Shell, do it too!

This company has a Fuel Rewards program. Basically, the more you fill up your gas tank, the more money you save.

Joining this program guarantees you Gold Status. This helps you save $0.05 a gallon. Fueling up 12 times within three months promotes you to Platinum. In that case, you can save $0.10 per gallon. Plus, you enjoy convenience store rewards!

Credit Card Rewards and Cash Back Offers

Aside from club membership, credit card companies offer rewards each time you use their cards for gas money.

Some of these include American Express’s Blue Cash Preferred Card and the Citi Custom Cash Card. The former offers a 3% cashback for any payment you make at the gas station. The best part is that there’s no earning limit.

With Citi’s card, you receive 5% cash back on your highest-billing category each month. You can earn up to $500.

To maximize your fuel savings, opt for affordable gas from warehouses like Costco.

If your bank doesn’t offer cash-back service for oil, consider applying for gas station credit cards from popular oil companies like BP.

After opening your BP gas card, you enjoy a 25-cent discount per gallon for every $100 you spend at the station. However, this only applies in the first 90 days.

Grocery Store Rewards

Spending your money at gas stations isn’t the only way to get rewards. Many grocery stores have partnered with oil companies, offering gas vouchers and other rewards.

However, there’s a twist. You need to have a loyalty card to access these benefits. Once you sign up for a membership, the process of filling up your gas tank for free becomes simple.

You spend money on groceries, and they offer you fuel rewards.

Fred Meyer is among the stores offering gas points. The former offers one fuel point for every dollar you spend at the shop using a Shopper’s Card—online purchases are included. Using select gift cards can double your fuel point reward.

You can redeem those points at any Fred Meyer Fuel Center or their partner fuel stations, such as Shell.

Participating in Surveys and Market Research

Online survey sites promising free discount gift cards or other deals sound too good to be true. Sure, a lot of sites are scams. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find legit companies.

For instance, Swagbucks is a reliable site that offers rewards such as gas gift cards. All you need to do is complete different tasks.

These include watching ads, taking surveys, using their search engine, and more. You get points for each activity you complete.

The system allows you to exchange 100 points for $1. Once you reach $50 worth of points, you can buy gas vouchers that you can use at popular stations like Exxon Mobil.

Aside from this website, many marketing companies offer paid surveys. Some of the sites that you can trust for this gig include Survey Junkie. You can use the money you earn for gas.

Promotions and Contests by Fuel Companies

Aside from cash-back credit cards, many fuel companies provide sizzling promotions. They also hold contests to increase your chances of winning free gas.

For instance, Shell offers its customers a chance to win one million Go+ points for every 200 points purchased. The best part is that you don’t need to redeem these points on fuel. You can use them at Shell Cafe or Select.

The gas station also offers free fuel when you subscribe to different services, such as oil change packages.

And if that wasn’t enough, the company occasionally holds contests where you get a chance to win a year’s worth of fuel for free! However, this prize is available depending on your location.

Another oil company that provides similar sweepstakes is Co-Op. To stay updated with their promotions, subscribe to the newsletter to be the first in line when the contests open.

Car Manufacturer Promotions

With the cost of fuel rising, many car dealers adopted a strategic approach that not only drives their sales but also earns you free gas!  

As you might have guessed, partnerships with local gas stations are the secret sauce in this strategy. Through this collaboration, car buyers can gain gas vouchers, join loyalty programs, and more!

For instance, Carvana, a fast-growing used car dealer, partnered with Shell last year. They announced a nationwide sweepstakes that’ll make your fuel worries vanish.

Picking a vehicle from their vending machines offers you a chance to win a $2,500 fuel gift car. That’s around a year’s supply of gasoline at the time!

If you’re on the lookout for a new set of wheels, consider buying from dealers with gas station partnerships.

Community Programs and Assistance for Low-Income Individuals

For low-income families, reaching out to charitable organizations is your ticket to free gas. They can offer gas vouchers or financial assistance to support your gas bills. They even aid in other essentials like groceries, utility bills, and more.

Some of those non-profit organizations include:

• Salvation Army: The Salvation Army offers cash aid to disadvantaged families and individuals. They may also offer gas vouchers. To find a nearby center, you can enter your zip code on the website and contact them for details.
• United Way: United Way collaborates with local non-profit organizations, helping those in need. You can contact them through their website or dial 211 and ask if your local branch offers gas money.
• Religious organizations: Most religious organizations can help support your gas or transportation expenses. Contact them to see if they offer discount gas gift cards.

Employer Reimbursement Programs

Many companies offer their employees compensation packages. These typically include medical care and retirement benefits. Some employers can also aid in gas expenses.

Aside from that, they may offer employees gas coverage because of legal requirements. That’s especially true if the company doesn’t provide a vehicle. You qualify for mileage reimbursement if you drive your car for your employer’s business.

Basically, mileage reimbursement is when the company compensates you for the business adventures you take using your car. These expenses not only cover fuel but also vehicle depreciation and maintenance!

According to the IRS, the milage rates are:

• $0.655 for every mile driven for business use.
• $0.22 for each mile driven for medical centers or for moving.
• $0.14 per mile driven for a charity organization.

Gas App Referrals and Rewards

Having a membership in wholesale clubs and gas stations isn’t the only way to save gas money. Some rewards apps also offer discounts!

GasBuddy is among the pioneers in this area. It helps you search for the lowest gas prices and save between 25 and 40 cents per gallon! The process is simple; all you do is link the GasBuddy card to your bank account and use it to pay each time you fuel up!

Another app that helps you find the best gas prices is GetUpside. When you join the app, you can access personalized gas offers. Not only that, but you can earn your cash back at the pump!

Gas Guru and Google Maps can help you find the most affordable fuel prices in your area. For the latter, type “gas near me” and compare the prices of the nearby stations.

Fuel-Saving Tips to Maximize Gas Efficiency

Sure, memberships, cash-back credit, vouchers, and more can help you save money. However, the key to cutting down your gas expenses is adopting fuel-efficient driving techniques. Here are a few tips to help maximize gas efficiency and save money:

• Accelerate gently: The harder you accelerate, the more fuel you burn. Take five seconds to reach 20 km/h from a stop.
• Maintain steady speed: Varying speed every 18 seconds can increase fuel use by 20%. That’s especially true at speeds between 75 and 85 km/h.
• Check traffic: Use Google Maps to anticipate traffic. Maintain a steady speed and reduce unnecessary braking.
• Don’t speed up: Going above 80 km/h generally increases fuel consumption.
• Limiting AC usage: Running the AC for a while can reduce your fuel efficiency by 20%. Unless driving at high speed with windows opened, limit your AC usage to save gas.

Wrapping Up

Figuring out how to get free gas can help you cut those hefty fuel expenses. Wholesale club memberships and gas station loyalty programs help you save money on each gallon of gas.

Using gas station credit cards, grocery shopping, and other strategies rewards you with cash back!

Aside from that, adopting fuel-efficient driving techniques helps reduce gas consumption.As a result, you cut down on your fuel expenses!

Take advantage of these strategies and drive smart so that you can say goodbye to those hefty gas bills!