How to save 14% on your gas costs!

By: Scott Siegel


There is a way that you can save from 3% to 14% on gas purchases. This strategy requires no special gadgets or fuel additives and does not require you to change your driving habits or your car.

There are a number of alternatives that will result in savings. Among the best is the use of credit cards that offer rebates. By using the right cards you can lower your costs without having to change your driving habits or do any special maintanance on your car.

Many gas companies offer credit cards that pay rebates on gas purchases. The typical card will rebate you 10% on your gas purchases for the first two or three months and then rebate you 5% on your gas purchases thereafter.

An example of a card currently being issued that has such a rebate program is the BP card. Their credit card will pay 10% for the first two billing periods for gas and other purchases at BP stations. The rate changes to 5% after the bonus period ends.

The credit card explained above is specifically for BP branded stations. You can not have a rebate at other stations. Instead of a gas company card a general market card might be a good choice if you need to use many different branded stations.

Generally most credit card companies have gas rebate plans. One such company is Discover Card. They currently issue a Discover Gas Card. This credit card will provide a rebate of 5 per cent of your gasoline purchases. The Discover card generally gives you a 1 per cent rebate on other items you purchase.

More examples: Chase has a gas Card that will give you a rebate of 6% for gas purchases for the first 60 days and then gives you a 3% rebate. Citicard has a similar program.

The credit cards that offer rebates only at specific branded stores and the general market cards have disadvantages and advantages. The credit card from the gas company pays the rebate only at the gas company's own stations. The general market card advantage is that you can use this card to buy fuel anywhere and you still get the rebate.

But, the advantage to the gas company card is that you receive a 10 percent rebate for the initial period where as the general market card does not pay that high.

So far we have discussed how to get a discount of 3 percent up to 10 percent. Even though 3% is good and 10% is better, how can you get a 14% discount? There is a method you can use to do that.

Pre paid gas cards or gasoline gift cards are sold at most gas stations. Usually these prepaid cards are discounted. You may have to wait for certain promotions but in general you can find one that is discounted. For example by spending $48 on a $50 gift card, you can use the card for $50 worth of gas but it only cost you $48.00.

The card allows you to buy $50 worth of gas but you only pay $48 for it. That is equal to a 4% discount.

If you can buy the prepaid or gift card with the credit card issued by a gas company card during the initial period when there is a 10% rebate on that purchase and if you can find it and buy it at the gas card company station then you have earned a 10% rebate on the $48.00 you spent on the card.

Remembering that the prepaid card provided a 4% discount, you are adding to your savings by 4%. Now you are compounding your savings!

You are getting a 10% rebate on the prepaid card purchase using the rebate credit card and you are getting a 4% savings by purchasing the prepaid gift card. Therefore the total you are getting is 14%. The 10% savings + the 4% savings or 4+10=14. Now you have just saved yourself 14% on your gas purchase.

Article Source: http://www.articleyard.com


Information about the Author:

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page manual of automotive industry insider information on saving fuel and money at the pump. Visit us to learn how you can Increase fuel economy . Find out how to save fuel and money.
Don't reprint the same version as everyone else. Get your own unique content lower gas costs article here.