3 Reasons to Always Buy Your Gas at Costco

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When you join Costco , you don't just get access to perks like affordably priced groceries and household essentials. You get access to a world of benefits, from travel services to electronics that come with free tech support and extended warranties.

But your Costco shopping strategy shouldn't simply be to hit the store, load up your trunk, and leave. You should aim to fill your car with gas before or after your Costco run. Here's why.

1. The prices are great

Costco's gas prices are ultra competitive. And while the warehouse club giant doesn't have an exact formula for establishing gas prices to compete with nearby stations, many drivers are able to save as much as $0.20 per gallon. If your car has a 14-gallon gas tank and you fill up once every week over the course of a year, that's $140 in savings.

Now one thing you should know is that Executive members at Costco don't get 2% cash back at the store's fuel stations. But you can snag cash back on your fill-up by choosing a credit card with extra gas rewards .

2. The gas itself is high in quality

You might think that because Costco's gas is so competitively priced, it's not the best. But not so. Costco gas has the TOP TIER™ designation. This means that it's designed to better protect engines from carbon build-up and deposits that result in wear and reduced fuel efficiency.

We just learned that filling up at Costco could save you as much as $0.20 per gallon. But you might save even more if you get extra miles to the gallon (though that will of course hinge on driving conditions and your habits behind the wheel).

3. You can pump up your tires with free air on the way out

Have you ever gotten in your car on a cold morning, only to see your tire pressure light come up? Poor tire pressure could lead to decreased fuel efficiency, forcing you to use more gas than you should be. So it's generally a good idea to head to a gas station and pump some air into your tires when that warning light goes on.

But you might have to pay for air at a regular gas station, which is annoying. Not at Costco, though. Costco has free air pumps in its parking lot. So if you're going to fill up, you can help yourself to all the free air your tires need.

All told, it pays to fill up your car at Costco when it's convenient to do so. This isn't to say that you should drive 20 miles out of your way to get to a Costco gas pump, because what you might save on gas, you might spend by going the extra distance.

But if you happen to be driving to Costco to load up on supplies, then it pays to build in an extra few minutes to fill up your tank before or after your shopping. And if you're buying perishables, aim for before, since you may be eager to get home quickly once you're done.

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