The 3rd GasBuddy Trick
Here’s the one that saves you from pump surprises:
The trick: Many stations list a “cheap” price on the sign and on GasBuddy, but when you swipe your card, you get hit with a 10-15 cent per gallon credit card penalty. You can force the app to only show you true cash prices.
Why it works: By default, the app sometimes blends or prioritizes credit prices. If you’re paying cash, you’re overpaying if you follow the default map.
The steps:
- Open the GasBuddy app.
- Go to “Filters” (usually top right or under the map layers).
- Look for “Payment Type”.
- Change it from “All” or “Credit” to strictly “Cash”.
- The map will now reload showing only the prices you’ll actually pay if you walk inside to pay cash.
The result: You instantly see which stations are genuinely cheap and which ones are just baiting you with a credit card fee.
The “Unbranded” Rule. When searching the map, skip the big names (Shell, Exxon, BP). Look for unbranded or regional stations (like Speedway, Wawa, or local no-name stations). They buy unbranded fuel and don’t pay the marketing markup for additives, meaning their base price is almost always 5-10 cents cheaper per gallon.
You don’t need a Costco or Sam’s Club membership to check their gas prices on GasBuddy. You can filter for “Warehouse” stations on the app to see if the savings per gallon is actually worth buying the annual club membership for your area.