Find the Cheapest Gas Prices in Your Area
Though gas prices have fallen lately and the highest prices around are cheaper than the lowest prices six months ago, it's best to support the stations which are being the most helpful. Fortunately MapQuest has a service which will list the cheapest gas stations.
Steps
- Go to http://www.mapquest.com/
- Click on the Gas Prices icon. It's near the top, to the right of the main logo.
- Enter your ZIP code over on the left if you're in a rural area. If you're in the city, add a nearby street as well. Click the Search button below.
- You will get a map, gas station names, addresses, and gas prices
Tips
- There are other services that do the same, only they let you fill in prices you've spotted. Likely MapQuest simply reads from those, thus explaining omissions on their maps, if any.
- Consider contributing to such a service to help your neighbors get the best prices.
- Use not only your home address, but work or school as well, as well as other places you regularly go. If prices are better across town and you have something to do there, fill up then as well.
Warnings
- Some gas stations will cheat to game the system. They'll post one price and charge you another unless you jump through certain hoops, such as paying cash or buying ten gallons or more. First, tell them you want the advertised price (and the law is on your side with this), and second, never, EVER buy gas there or let your friends/family buy from them.
- Some gas stations will add water or other additives to their gas to dilute it. Sometimes this just makes a car run rough but it can make a car stall out more. If a non-chain gas station is always a few cents cheaper, just ask around; locals usually know if the gas is suspect or not.
Things You'll Need
- A personal computer, or access to one. Like the one you're sitting at now.
- Elementary knowledge of how to operate an online map.
