15 Legit Ways to Get Free Gas

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where to get free gas

Transportation costs are a huge budget area that you can reduce.

By combining trips you need to take with your car (i.e. stopping at the grocery store on the way home from work instead of making a separate trip), obeying speed limit laws, and keeping your car well-maintained, you can save money on gas costs by using less.

And if you put in a bit of time, you can even find ways to get free gas.

How to Get Free Gas

The truth is that there are ways you can get gas for free. Not all methods will work for everyone, but if you can use even one of these ways to get gas for free, you can cut down on transportation costs.

You can then use that savings to fast-track your debt payoff or other financial goals.

1. Get Gas Cards

Did you know you can earn gas cards by watching videos, browsing the Internet, completing surveys, and shopping online?

For each activity you complete via Swagbucks, you earn points that can be used to purchase free gift cards – including gas cards.

You can then use the cards you earn to get free gas at participating gas stations instead of paying for it out of your own budget.

2. Consider Advertising on Your Car

At Free Gas Help, you can earn free gas cards in exchange for placing advertisements on your car.  They offer a variety of advertisement venues, from door magnets to complete vehicle wraps.

You get to choose which ads you have on your car, so you don’t have to drive around with ads you’re uncomfortable with.

As you drive around with the ads on your car, you’re earning free monthly gas cards for local gas stations.

For a full car wrap, they’ll pay as much as $200 per month in gas cards.

There are some requirements to use their service. For instance, you must drive at least 1,000 miles each month to be eligible for their services. You also have to have a car that’s in good condition.

Carvertise is one of the other valid companies that will pay you to carry ads around on your car.

3. Take Surveys

There are many companies out there, such as Survey Junkie, that will allow you to take surveys to earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards to a variety of retailers, including gas stations.

The great thing about earning free gas money by filling out surveys is that you can do it online from anywhere you choose when you have free time.

Are you sitting at the dentist’s office waiting for your appointment? Use your smartphone to fill out a few surveys. Got a twenty-minute break at work? Use it to answer surveys and earn some extra cash.

Make taking surveys a habit, and soon enough, you’ll have earned enough points for a gift card from a gasoline retailer near you.

Not all survey companies are legit, though, so check out this post on the best survey sites before you sign up to take surveys to get free gas.

4. Use Credit Card Rewards to Get Free Gas

There are many credit cards out there that give reward points that you can redeem for cash, for credit to your card, or gift cards. Keep track of the money you earn via rewards from using your credit cards.

Then, use the free reward points to put gas in your car – i.e. FREE gas. You can do this by using your points to purchase gas station gift cards or by simply transferring your rewards points to your credit card and filling up your gas tank for the same dollar amount.

The key to success in using credit card rewards to get free gas is to make sure you never pay interest on your credit card purchases.

In other words, use the rewards card only for items you would buy anyway, and then pay the card off monthly.

If you’re not paying the card off in full each month, the rewards you earn are offset by interest you’ll have to pay to carry a balance on the credit card.

Related article: Upside App Review: Earn Gas Rewards

5. Contact Charities in Your Area

Many times, local charitable organizations will help people in need by providing gas cards so that they have access to free gas for necessary driving, such as getting to job interviews, work, appointments, or groceries.

In the Midwest, the Salvation Army provides transportation funds for those in need.

In other states, there are non-profit organizations or churches that provide free cards for people who need to fill up their tanks but don’t have the cash.

If you need free gas, contact churches and other local charities to find out if they supply free gas cards to those in need.

You might also try contacting your local Health and Human Services Department, as they sometimes will give out gas cards to those in need.

6. Keep an Eye Out for Gas Card Offers at Retailers

Sometimes, local and nationally known retailers offer products that come with a free gas card.

For instance, CVS, the nationally known drug store retailer, occasionally offers a free gas card with qualifying purchases.

Their ExtraCare Rewards card has been known to offer freebies such as $10 gas cards and other benefits that they give away when you purchase specific items.

Check CVS weekly ads and the ads of other local retailers in your area for deals on free cards with purchases.

Additionally, many grocery stores will offer fuel points. National grocery stores will also allow you to cash in those fuel points across states. This is a great way to save money on gas.

7. Use Travel Rebates

If you travel regularly, you may earn free gas cards by staying at the right hotel chains when you travel.

For example, Best Western lets customers earn rewards points every time they stay at a qualifying Best Western hotel.

After you’ve accumulated a certain number of points by staying at their hotels, you can redeem them for gift cards at Shell or Exxon gas stations.

What is the coolest thing about rewards points through Best Western hotels? They never expire.

So, even if you’re not a frequent traveler, you can earn points, save them up over time, and redeem them for a free gas card.

Saving up your travel rewards by staying at Best Western hotels or other hotels that reward customers with gift cards to gas stations could be a cool way to pay for gas for an upcoming vacation as well, enabling you to cut down on vacation costs if you plan in advance.

8. Apply for a Gas Station Credit Card

A general credit card option might help you tap into free gas through rewards. However, a credit card specifically branded by the gas station of your choice can help you rack up the rewards and the free gasoline.

Many gas station credit cards offer generous rewards to help you fuel up for less. For example, Exxon Mobil offers a Smart Card+, which automatically helps you save up to 12 cents per gallon at Exxon pumps.

But many gas stations offer their own twist on a gas rewards credit card. If you’re a driver looking to limit your pain at the pump, it’s worth considering adding another credit card to your wallet.

Before you jump in, make sure you can handle a credit card responsibly. You’ll only want to spend what you can afford to pay off each month. Otherwise, the interest rate tied to the credit card could wipe out any real savings.

9. Join Gas Station Loyalty Programs

Opening a credit card isn’t the right choice for everyone. Whether you have poor credit or don’t want to risk overspending, gas station loyalty programs are another opportunity to save without any interest charges.

Many gas stations offer loyalty programs to help customers save at the pump. A few gas stations offering these programs include BP, QuikTrip, Exxon Mobil, and Shell. If you don’t see your favorite gas station on this short list, look around next time you pump gas. Most stations with a loyalty program advertise it on the pumps.

The savings per gallon might not be spectacular. But every penny saved can add up over time. Although you’ll likely get the most rewards by sticking to a single program, there is no harm in signing up for multiple loyalty programs to capture savings wherever you happen to fuel up.

10. Enter A Gas Sweepstakes

Winning a gas sweepstakes might seem like a long shot. However, it only takes a few minutes to enter. Why not spend a second on the chance to win thousands in free fuel?

For example, Speedway offers a sweepstakes program for its rewards program members. Some prizes include a $500 gift card for Speedway, which you can redeem for fuel.

Like the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t play. But unlike the lottery, sweepstakes are usually free to enter.

11. Buy Gift Cards at a Discount

Shopping the weekly sales at chains like CVS and Publix might help you tap into discounted gift cards. But if you don’t have the time to monitor the sales, there’s an easier way. You can buy gift cards for gas stations on websites like Gift Card Granny.

Instead of waiting for a sale, you can head onto one of these websites to browse the selection available. Hopefully, you’ll find a discounted gift card option for the gas station of your choice.

Although this is a relatively roundabout way to lock in cheaper gas, it’s an opportunity to stretch your budget further. As a driver on a budget, every little bit helps!

12. Use Gas Apps to Lock in Savings

Many gas apps are designed to help users find savings at the pump. While some gas apps simply help you track down the best price per gallon, others are designed to help you stack up cash-back opportunities.

For example, Upside connects users to cash-back opportunities at the pump. Depending on the deal, you might score up to 25 cents per gallon cashback. It’s easy to see how that cash back would grow quickly.

When you find a deal through Upside, you’ll take a picture of the receipt after fueling up with a credit card or debit card. You can redeem the cashback via PayPal, check, or gift card.

13. Find Cheaper Gas Through a Wholesale Membership Club

If you’ve driven by your local Costco or Sam’s Club on the weekend, you’ve likely seen many cars waiting to fuel up at the club’s pumps. Members can use their membership to access significant savings at the pump.

For drivers who already have a club membership, fueling up at the wholesale membership club is often an easy way to save on fuel costs.

But if you haven’t already committed to a particular club, run the numbers of the membership costs against your potential savings to ensure the membership is worthwhile.

14. Start a Carpool

If you want to save on gas during a regular commute, consider setting up a carpool with others in your area. Either for going to work or for students driving to school

Carpooling and having co-workers and friends help pay for gas can benefit you. While you won’t necessarily get free gas, you can have the other passengers chip in to cover some or all of your fuel costs.

Starting a carpool might be as easy as asking around the office. But if you have a limited number of coworkers, consider putting up a flyer near your office building.

Others who work in the same area might reach out for more information.

For many carpool drivers, an additional perk comes in the form of express lane access. Many major cities offer free access to the express lane for vehicles with at least two passengers. With that, you might save on gas and cut some time off your commute.

15. Reach Out for Help

Some organizations, like the Salvation Army and United Way, offer gas vouchers to qualifying individuals. Typically, you’ll need to be in financial distress. The program’s goal is to help you get back on your feet.

If you think you might qualify, it never hurts to reach out for help.

You can find out more information by contacting your local Salvation Army center. You can also call 211 to connect with United Way and learn more about its programs in your area.

Other Ways to Spend Less on Gas

Along with using the ways above to get free gas, there are other things you can do to cut down on gasoline costs in your budget.

1. Drive Slow and Drive Steady

You’ll go through less gas by staying in the right lane on the highway and avoiding constant accelerations and braking.

Keeping distance between you and the car ahead of you will also help you drive steadily and avoid constant braking and acceleration.

2. Keep Your Car Well Maintained

Your car will also go through less gas if it’s maintained well. Keep the tires inflated properly, change the oil and filters when necessary, and avoid having extra weight in your car (i.e. “stuff”) that doesn’t need to be there.

Also, when looking for gas stations, get good gas. For example, if the gas tanks are being filled, the gas in the tanks will be moving around. Anything that settled to the bottom may be stirred up. If possible, avoid that gas station for the time being and find another. Good gas can make a big difference in your car.

By doing these things, your car will run more efficiently and use less gas.

3. Know Where the Cheapest Gas Is

Find out where the prices of the lowest gas stations on your regular routes to and from where you go. Sam’s Club is consistently the cheapest in our area – by seven to ten cents per gallon. Because of that, we always plan to fill up the tank when we make a Sam’s Club run.

If you know which companies consistently charge the lowest gas prices or consistently give out discount coupons, you can plan your fill-ups for when you’re near those stations.

4. Take Other Forms of Transportation

When possible, consider other forms of transportation for car trips when they’re more efficient. If you live near work or the grocery store, consider using an electric bike or walking there if it’s safe.

Or if it’s cheaper to take public transportation or to carpool with a co-worker instead of taking your own car to work, go that route. You’ll spend less on gas by minimizing the amount of time you use your car.

5. Be Willing to Be a Little Bit Uncomfortable

Air conditioning units in cars function by using the gas from your tank. Open windows and sunroofs increase wind resistance, making your car less fuel-efficient.

If you don’t live in an excessively warm state and can safely avoid using the air conditioning in your car and avoid keeping the windows open, you’ll use less gas.

6. Get a More Fuel Efficient Vehicle

If it makes economic sense, you can sell your car for a different one with better gas mileage. However, I only recommend doing so if you don’t take on new car payments or more debt.

Instead of increasing your debt for better gas mileage, look for a quality used car that costs the same or less than the car you’re driving currently.

Summary

Spending less money on gas – and driving in a way that helps you use less–is good for your wallet and the environment, from finding the right gas station to earning gas cards.

Take advantage of the tips listed here to increase your car’s efficiency and save money at the pump.

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7 Comments

  1. Using gasbuddy.com or the gas buddy app can let you know where the cheapest gas is near you.

  2. Susan Pitts says:

    I have never received a gas card before I won one I haven’t gotten it yet. I don’t know if I will.

    1. Try completing surveys or using another method to get a gas gift card. Best of luck!

  3. Patsy sipes says:

    I live in Autumn Leaves nursing home.They will not take me to my doctor’s appointments in Dallas, TX. My daughter has to take off work and buy my gas plus my lunch and dinner. Can I get gas money? Plus, she pays for my phone, clothes, computer, and groceries.

    1. I’m sorry it’s so difficult for you to get to your appointments. To see if you can get help with gas money for them, you could try to follow the links in the post.

  4. shirley johnson says:

    I haven’t ever had a gas card.

    1. You might check into it by using this post. Just follow the links! 🙂