Gas prices across the U.S. have been on the rise for eight consecutive weeks. And with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine seemingly underway, experts say the pain at the pump is about to increase.
“The weeks ahead could be rather ugly with rising prices,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, in a statement earlier this week.
AAA puts the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded at $3.53 as of Wednesday—22 cents higher than it was a month ago. And $4 a gallon is a real possibility as oil prices near $100 a barrel. (Some areas could even see $5 per gallon.) For commuters, that’s another major expense, as they look to offset high inflation in other areas, including utility bills and trips to the grocery store. (And it’s especially frustrating, given predictions last year that gas prices would fall well below $3 per gallon in 2022.)
Making matters worse? Spring’s about to start, which is when gas prices traditionally go up each year. There are a few tools, though, that can help you mitigate rising gas prices.
GasBuddy
One of the most popular applications and websites dedicated to gas prices, this service searches real-time prices in your area to help you find the lowest rate. All totaled, GasBuddy keeps tabs on roughly 150,000 stations across North America and can save drivers 40 cents per gallon or more, depending on your town.
Autoblog
Best known for its auto advice, this well-known site also has a search function for prices at local stations in all 50 states.
Geico
Search prices within five, 10, or 25 miles of your location on this tool provided by the insurance company. (You don’t have to have a policy with Geico to use it.) This service also notes the last time it checked the price, so you don’t drive a little farther, only to learn you were acting on outdated information.
You will have to be a member of this service to use the company’s gas price search tool. Given its wide membership, however, that won’t be a problem for many drivers.
Waze
The popular navigation app lets you search for nearby gas stations or those that are along your route. (Prices are crowdsourced by other users.) You can filter those by distance, brand, or price. Just click the gas pump icon to see stations and prices. (Google Maps also shows gas prices, but Apple Maps does not.)
FuelEconomy.Gov
The U.S. government actually has a site that helps people compare gas prices near them, but it largely will redirect you to other services.
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