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“Steep” indeed. According to AAA, the national average price of a gallon of gas in the United States topped $4 at the end of March 2026.
But I won’t take these price hikes lying down. As someone who writes about credit cards and personal finance for a living, I’ve been leveraging credit cards to save money on gas so that each fill-up doesn’t sting quite as much.
Here are some tips to help you do the same.
1. Choose the right credit card
NerdWallet recommends getting a general rewards credit card that earns at least 3% cash back (or 3x back in rewards or points) per $1 spent on gas purchases made anywhere, not just with one specific brand. Several cards on the market earn as much as 5% back and don’t charge an annual fee.
An exception where a co-branded card might make sense? Cards affiliated with wholesalers like Costco and Sam’s Club, whose gas prices tend to be lower than average. Getting gas at one of those retailers combined with the rewards you’d earn on that retailer’s co-branded credit card can deliver meaningful savings. However, while these cards don’t have annual fees, a paid membership to the wholesaler or warehouse club is typically required. Before signing up, try to figure out whether the credit card’s rewards can make up for that membership fee.
Grocery rewards. Some grocery stores have teamed up with gas companies to offer additional savings. By spending at a particular grocery chain, you can earn discounts at the pump. Of course, the more you spend with the grocery store, the bigger your discount will be on gas.
Gas station loyalty programs. Most gas companies have them, and they’re free to join. Be sure to enter your loyalty number or scan your rewards card in order to get the savings, which is usually a cents-per-gallon discount.
Upside app. Of the multiple cash-back apps out there, Upside is what NerdWallet recommends for gas station savings. When I checked my Upside app while writing this article, I saw an offer for 15 cents back per gallon at multiple gas stations near me. To snag the discount, claim an offer within the app, make a purchase, then upload your receipt before the offer expires. (In some cases, you may not even need to upload a paper receipt if you’ve linked your card in the app.)
3. Know when credit cards don’t make financial sense
For example, say your local gas station offers a 20-cents-per-gallon discount for cash-paying customers. If you get 10 gallons of gas at $4 per gallon, you’ll save $2 by paying with cash. That same fill-up paid with a credit card that earns 2% back on gas would result in only 80 cents of savings. Doing some quick math at the pump can put a few dollars back in your pocket.
And cash or debit is always going to be the smarter choice if you tend to carry a balance on your credit card. The average APR charged for credit card accounts that incurred interest was 22.3% as of November 2025, according to the Federal Reserve. And rewards-earning cards tend to charge even higher rates than that. If you’re carrying a balance at those rates, any rewards you might earn by paying with plastic would likely be overshadowed by the interest you’d rack up in just a single billing cycle.
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