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Gas prices are at their lowest national average in nearly five years, at $2.81 a gallon, according to a January 2026 report from the American Automobile Association (AAA). This is the lowest national average since March 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though gas prices have fallen, the cost of goods and services overall is still about 25% above 2021 levels. The January 2026 Consumer Price Index (CPI) provides additional context: The index for gas dropped 7.5% over the past 12 months, while other energy costs, including electricity and natural gas, increased by 6.3% and 9.8%, respectively. Food overall increased 2.9% year-over-year, with five out of six grocery store food group indexes rising month over month in January.
If you’re interested in squeezing out even more savings on gas, doing so could free up your budget for other inflation-hit expenses. CNBC Select discusses a few credit cards and rewards programs that can help you save on refueling, alongside some lesser-known options.
Credit cards that earn rewards on gas
One of the easiest ways to save a little more on gas is simply by using the right gas rewards credit card. This route doesn’t require extreme couponing or even changing your habits; instead, your card will earn rewards on your gas and/or EV-charging purchases.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Card
The PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers one of the highest rewards rates on both gas and EV charging, earning up to 5X points with no spending cap. For example, if you spend $200 per month on gas and charge it to the PenFed Platinum, you could earn 12,000 points over the course of the year (roughly $120 in gift card value).
This no-annual-fee card also earns a competitive 3X points at supermarkets (including most Target and Walmart locations), restaurants and on TV, radio, cable and streaming services. The points you earn can be redeemed for travel, gift cards or merchandise.
One caveat with this card is that it requires a PenFed membership, but anyone can apply. To qualify, simply open a Regular Savings or Premium Online Savings account and deposit a minimum of $5.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
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Rewards
5X points on gas purchases at the pump and electrical vehicle charging stations, 3X points on purchases at the supermarket (including most Target and Walmart locations†), restaurants, and TV, radio, cable, streaming services
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Welcome bonus
15,000 points when you spend $1,500 in first 90 days
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 60 days after account opening.*
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Regular APR
17.99% variable on purchases; 17.99% non-variable on balance transfers
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- High 5X points on gas at the pump and 3X on supermarket purchases
- No bonus category activations
- Good special financing offer on balance transfers
*0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 60 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. 3% balance transfer fee per transaction. Subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
Citi Strata Premier Card
The Citi Strata Premier® Card earns 3X ThankYou® Points on gas and EV charging stations, also with no spending cap. That’s a lower rate than the PedFed Platinum, but its additional travel-related perks may push the card in your favor.
The Strata Premier earns 10X points on select travel booked through cititravel.com and the same 3X rate at restaurants, supermarkets, air travel and general hotel purchases. Citi ThankYou® Points are a pretty valuable currency, especially if you use transfer partners. You can transfer your Citi points at a 1:1 ratio to American Airlines, JetBlue, Choice Privileges hotels and more, and for potentially greater value (over 1 cent per point).
Note, the card does charge a $95 annual fee, which can be counterintuitive if you’re looking to cut costs across the board. You can, however, cover this yearly fee with the Strata Premier’s $100 Annual Hotel Benefit.
The Citi Strata Premier® Card has competitive rewards rates and unlocks access to all of the Citi ThankYou® transfer partners, which boosts the value of your points.
- Unlocks point transfers to all of the Citi ThankYou® partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges, Flying Blue and more
- Generous bonus spending categories include dining, supermarkets, hotels and flights
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Has an annual fee
- Car rental coverage is secondary, not primary
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
PNC Cash Rewards Visa Card
If you’re looking for a gas rewards card with a fairly easy-to-earn welcome bonus, the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card offers a $200 cash back bonus after spending $1,000 on your card in the first three months.
The card doesn’t charge an annual fee and earns 4% cash back on gas station purchases, 3% on dining at restaurants and 2% at grocery stores (on up to $8,000 per year in combined purchases, then 1%). Its redemption options are straightforward and include a statement credit or direct deposit into an eligible PNC account.
Outside of gas rewards, the PNC Cash Rewards Visa could be a good option if you’re carrying any credit card debt. The card offers a low intro APR on balance transfers, helping you avoid interest for a set number of months.
PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card
Information about the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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Rewards
4% cash back at gas stations, 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, and 2% cash back at grocery stores, for the first $8,000 in combined purchases in these categories annually, 1% cash back on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
$200 bonus after you make $1,000 or more in purchases during the first 3 months following account opening
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
0% for the first 15 billing cycles on balance transfers
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Regular APR
19.24% to 29.24% variable
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Balance transfer fee
3%, $5 minimum, within the first 90 days from account opening, then 4%, $5 minimum
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- High cash-back bonus spending categories
- Valuable welcome bonus
- No annual fee
Cons
- Bonus cash-back categories are capped
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Gas rewards programs
If you’re happy with the credit cards you currently have, you could sign up for a gas rewards program instead. While you’ll have to purchase gas at certain stations to earn the perks, it’s a good way to shave a few cents off your fuel up and earn additional rewards.
earnify by BP
earnify™ is the rewards program of BP and its subsidiaries, including Amoco and AMPM. When you pay through the earnify app, you’ll receive 5 cents off per gallon on all fill-ups, while earning 1 point per gallon and 2 points per dollar spent inside stores.
The points you earn can be spent on your choice of convenience store items or to receive extra savings per gallon at the pump. Plus, new users will receive a 250-point welcome offer when signing up.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can link your Amazon and earnify accounts and save 10 cents per gallon instead of just 5.
Exxon Mobil Rewards+
If Exxon is your preferred gas station, Exxon Mobil Rewards+™ program members earn at least 3 cents per gallon in points on gas and 2 cents in points on every purchase of snacks, drinks, car washes and more.
If you purchase Synergy Supreme+™ premium gas, you’ll get 6 cents per gallon back. AARP members and Frequent Filler members (or those who buy 100 gallons or more per month) can earn an additional cent per gallon in rewards when they link their accounts.
The points you earn can be redeemed for fuel and in-store discounts at participating stations.
Shell Fuel Rewards
Another widely available gas rewards program to consider is Shell Fuel Rewards. This program has three tiers: Silver, Gold and Platinum. Silver is the default and saves you 3 cents per gallon; Gold saves you 5 cents, and Platinum saves you 10 cents.
To qualify for Gold, you’ll need six regular fills or three Shell V-Power NiTRO+® Premium Gasoline fills within three months of membership. Platinum requires 12 regular fills or six premium fills in the same timeframe. Each tier stacks on additional benefits, and you can redeem your rewards for more fuel savings or in-store purchases.
Paying too much for car insurance? Check out these options to save.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
Geico auto coverage is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with 16 discounts and add-ons like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and mechanical breakdown insurance.
Additional ways to save on gas
Gas credit cards and rewards programs are great ways to help you save extra money on fuel, but there are a few other ways to cut costs.
If you’re a member of a wholesale club like Costco or Sam’s Club, buying gas there can be cheaper than elsewhere; gas at warehouse stations is often 5 to 25 cents cheaper than at traditional stations. This is a great way to get extra value from a warehouse club membership if you’re on the fence about it.
If you’re on the road and just trying to find the cheapest gas in your area, try using the GasBuddy app. The app will show you roughly 50 of the closest gas stations, and you can sort your options by price, distance or both. You can even search by brand, which is helpful if you belong to a certain gas rewards program.
FAQs
How can I save on gas with my driving?
How do I know what type of gas to use?
While different car engines are designed to use specific octane levels of fuel, many standard cars are made to take regular 87-octane gas. You should consult your car’s manual for specifics.
Does idling your car really burn that much fuel?
Yes, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, it’s more fuel efficient to turn off your car and restart it if you will be waiting longer than 10 seconds.
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