Signing up for a Costco membership comes with many perks. One of them is the ability to buy fuel at Costco gas stations.
Costco gas offers a lot of advantages over other gas stations, including those run by Sam's Club. In fact, here are three of the biggest benefits of buying gas at Costco that you should know about.
1. Costco gas is offered at a great price
The single biggest benefit of buying gas at Costco is that you can get your fuel at a much cheaper price than you would be able to if you shopped elsewhere.
Although the exact amount of savings you'll get varies based on your location and the specific club you're shopping at, you'll typically save around $0.20 per gallon at Costco according to most online reports.
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Most cars hold between 10.5 and 18.5 gallons of gas. If your car is somewhere in the middle of this range and you fill up a 14-gallon tank, you'd save about $2.80 every single time you gas up over the course of the year. That can add up to a hefty sum -- close to $150 if you gas up every week. That's a lot of extra money in your bank account.
2. Costco gas is higher quality than many competitors
So, gas at Costco is cheaper, but is it decent fuel? Absolutely.
In fact, the quality of Costco's gas is another big reason why you should fuel up at the warehouse club. Kirkland Signature Gasoline is TOP TIER™ certified, which means it meets stringent performance standards.
Using TOP TIER™ gas can reduce valve damage, sticking valves, and fouled plugs. It can help you maintain a clean engine, and it can help in preserving your vehicle's fuel economy. It's even better for the environment.
Sam's Club, unfortunately, is not TOP TIER™ and the gas at many other stations you'll visit also doesn't have this classification. While gas certified to meet the TOP TIER™ performance standards usually costs more, that's not the case at Costco. And car experts have reported it's worth the extra money to buy this certified gas. So getting it at a price that's actually discounted is a real steal.
Finally, the last big benefit of buying gas at Costco is that it's convenient to do so.
Costco gas stations are located by Costco stores, and Costco has taken pains to make it more easily accessible by setting up the stations so the traffic flow is one way, making it faster and easier to get in and out.
You can pop into the gas station, then run into the club to pick up a hot dog and soda combo for lunch or to grab some bulk household items that you'd been running out of.
Since you'll probably visit the warehouse club more often if you're buying gas there than you would otherwise, this makes it easier for you to take advantage of the savings that Costco provides on other products. You'll get more value from your membership and perhaps slash your grocery bill, since you'll be buying more items at the discounted prices on offer.
For each of these three reasons, Costco members should try to fill up their tanks at Costco as often as they can. It doesn't pay to go miles out of your way to do so -- but if you can plan strategically to get gas there when you happen to be in the area, doing so is undoubtedly a smart move for your budget.
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FAQs
It's good for your car
The fact that gas is cheaper at Costco doesn't mean it's lower in quality. The company offers Kirkland Signature gasoline, which is formulated to improve vehicle performance and fuel economy. Costco says the gas also reduces emissions, making it better for the environment.
What are the benefits of buying gas at Costco? ›
It's good for your car
The fact that gas is cheaper at Costco doesn't mean it's lower in quality. The company offers Kirkland Signature gasoline, which is formulated to improve vehicle performance and fuel economy. Costco says the gas also reduces emissions, making it better for the environment.
Why is Costco fuel better? ›
As our valued member, you can expect Costco to always offer the finest quality products at the best possible price. Gasoline is no exception. Costco has studied both fuel additives and deposits and as a result, has decided to increase the detergent additives in our fuel to provide a better value to members.
Is Costco worth it just for gas? ›
Most recently I saved 38 cents a gallon at Costco compared to the other gas stations in the area. That adds up to me saving a few hundred dollars a year on gas by choosing Costco. Sometimes the lines to get gas at Costco are long, but I can see why. Fortunately, I find they usually move pretty fast.
How much do people save on gas from Costco? ›
Costco gas saves $116 per year vs. the average. Across the seven cities, Costco's prices ranged from $0.15 to $0.46 per gallon less than the city's average gas price. That worked out to be $0.28 per gallon cheaper on average.
What are the benefits like at Costco? ›
Benefits. We offer an industry-competitive benefit package for full-time and part-time employees with low out-of-pocket premiums and copays. In addition to medical, dental, and vision benefits, employees can take advantage of an array of programs to suit their individual and family needs.
What is the best day to buy gas at Costco? ›
Gas stations can get busy (avoid weekends)
Avoid weekend fill-ups if you can. Buying gas on a weekend could be a nightmare, as waiting times could take hours. To avoid this, the best time to get gas at Costco is on weekdays between 10-11 in the morning.
What makes Costco gas different? ›
Costco uses fuel filters to catch particles or debris larger than 10 microns in diameter. For comparison, the average human hair is seventy microns thick. Our attendants check the nozzle flow rate frequently to assure that our filters are fresh.
Is Costco gas good or bad for your car? ›
Both Costco and Shell are top tier gasolines. If you read what top tier is then you can decide for yourself if the difference in Shell versus Costco makes sense for you.
Why is Costco gas not cheap anymore? ›
As gasoline prices fall, Costco does not lower prices at the same pace it raises them when prices are climbing. This allows the company to recoup some of the profits lost by doing the reverse when prices were rising.
Quality gas is important, yes, but so is price. Costco Gas Stations offer consistently low, member-exclusive prices. With the Costco app, you can check Costco gas prices on your phone. On the app, find your local warehouse to see hours of operation, gas prices and more warehouse details.
Do you get 2 cash back on Costco gas? ›
The primary benefit of the executive membership is scoring 2% back on Costco purchases. Certain purchases don't qualify for cash back, including gas, stamps, and vehicles.
Does Costco make money from gas? ›
The short answer is that unlike pretty much every other retail business that sells gasoline, Costco doesn't care about making money from its gas pumps. In fact, Costco typically sells its gas at a moderate loss. Why would Costco do this? It's not an act of charity.
What is the benefit of getting gas at Costco? ›
Buying gas at Costco can save you money -- typical savings are around $0.20 per gallon. It makes stopping at the warehouse club more convenient -- you can buy groceries and fuel up your car. The higher quality of Costco gas could help your vehicle run more smoothly.
What is the best day to buy gas? ›
Buy Gas on Monday or Tuesday
Be strategic about the days you fill up at the pump. “For gas, Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the cheapest days to fill up your tank as demand is lower at the beginning of the week,” Anderson said.
Do you get money back on gas at Costco? ›
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Cash Back Rewards
Earn cash back rewards on purchases wherever Visa® is accepted. You'll get 4% back on eligible gasoline purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter. You'll also earn 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, including Costco Travel.
Does Costco gas count as gas rewards? ›
The Reward may be redeemed toward purchases of most merchandise through the front-end registers (not currently available at self-checkout) at Costco warehouses in the U.S. Reward certificates may not be used: (i) toward purchases that are not recorded through Costco's front-end registers, such as purchases at gas ...
Why do people get gas from Costco? ›
Costco opened its first gas station in 1995 with a commitment to members to provide high quality gasoline at the lowest possible prices. Members will find regular and premium grade fuel – and in some places, diesel. High quality fuel – it's another benefit of a Costco membership.
What is the difference between Costco gas and others? ›
Is the fuel at Costco stations different than the fuel at other gas stations? Costco fuel is the same unleaded gasoline with ethanol and detergent addiditives as other stations.
