6 Things To Know Before You Buy Gas at Costco Wholesale (2024)

Money expert Clark Howard loves shopping at warehouse clubs like Costco to save money on groceries and other everyday items. But did you know that you can fill up your tank at a discount, too?

If you want tosave money on gas, fueling up at Costco may be the perfect solution for you and your wallet. It’s also one of the many perks that make a Costco membership worth it.

This article was updated in May 2024 and I review it every 12 months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

Things To Know Before You Buy Gas at Costco

In this article, I’ll share several things to know before purchasing gas from Costco and why I prefer their gas over other stations.

1. It’s for Costco Members Only (With One Exception)

Costco gas is available to Gold Star, Executive, and Business memberships, making it a great perk to their members.

6 Things To Know Before You Buy Gas at Costco Wholesale (1)

The way it works is simple. Pull up to a pump and insert your membership card. Next, you can insert or tap your payment card. Lastly, select the grade of fuel and begin fueling. Note that Costco only has two grades of gas: 87 and 93.

There is one exception to the membership rule: Customers paying with a Costco Shop Card do not need a membership to purchase fuel. You do, however, need a membership to purchase a Shop Card at the customer service desk or online so this could be a great gift for your non-member friends or family.

2. Prices Are Typically Competitive

Does your Costco have a gas station? If so, you can easily track prices from the Costco website or app. If you have the Costco app, open the app, click “warehouse,” and click “see warehouse details.” Typically, operating hours and prices will be shown.

Costco has a disclaimer that says they try to update the app prices frequently, but the price may reflect a different price at the pump. This happened to me on my recent trip to Costco. When I checked the app before heading out, it was a low price, but when I arrived at Costco, it was $.02 lower than the app price.

It is important to check apps such as the Costco app or another resource like Gas Buddy to ensure it is worth the drive if you do not have a location near you. I have several Costco locations near me, but only one has a gas station. In my case, the Costco of Oceanside, NY, had the cheapest gas prices day after day vs. the stations nearby. This made the drive through three towns worth it to obtain cheaper gas. It was paired with a shopping trip at Costco and was not inconvenient.

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Here are the prices that I tracked using the Gas Buddy and Costco apps in May 2024.

FridaySaturdaySundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayAverage:
Costco$3.35/gal$3.35/gal$3.35/gal$3.35/gal$3.35/gal$3.35/gal$3.35/gal$3.35/gal
Nearby Gas Station$3.69/gal$3.69/gal$3.71/gal$3.71/gal$3.69/gal$3.69/gal$3.69/gal$3.70/gal

Using the prices above, I calculated a rough gas savings by traveling to Costco vs. a local station. My Toyota Highlander has a gas tank capacity of 17.9 gallons. The price difference on average between Costco and the other station is $.35/gallon. Assuming I was close to empty, I would have saved $6.26 by traveling to Costco vs. staying locally.

Fortunately, my local Costco’s prices are included on the Gas Buddy app. It is a great tool to see the Costco price and competitor prices all in one place.

3. It Doesn’t Matter What Side Your Gas Tank Is On

As you pull up to the pump, here is an important tip to remember: It doesn’t matter what side your gas tank is on. You heard correctly! Costco has a one-way direction and extra-long hoses that allow you to fill up from either side of your vehicle.

But remember: do not block the middle lane. The middle lane allows drivers to pass by other drivers that are currently filling their vehicles.

4. Stations Can Get Busy

Even though Costco has thought through ways to curb the congestion at their pumps, it can still be busy due to the low prices.

As a regular Costco shopper, I have noticed that the lines tend to be the longest during the weekdays, early in the morning and later in the evening. Why? I think it is because people tend to fill up before or after work. Weekends at my Costco gas station are also jam-packed. The sweet spot for filling up at my Costco is mid-day during the week.

Granted, each store varies, but there is a tool from Google that may be helpful to utilize. When I type in “Costco Gas Oceanside, NY,” I see a bar graph that displays popular times. (Just scroll down past store directions and operating times to find this feature.) Looking at the graph (on the left in the screenshot below), I can see that Costco gas is not too busy now, but around 4 p.m., it is estimated to spike. As I mentioned previously, I attribute this to people fueling up as they head home.

Also, I glanced at the weekend prediction of popular times (in the bar graph to the right) and this confirmed my in-person observation that Saturday and Sunday are by far the busiest time to fuel up.

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5. Costco Anywhere Visa Cardholders Get Rewards

Have you heard Clark talk about his favorite credit cards? One of them is the Costco Anywhere Visa® as atop reward card for cash back on gas, and for a good reason.

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Besides taking advantage of the low prices at the pump, you can get an additional 4% back on gas purchased at Costco.

The 4% back is capped at $7,000 in gas purchases per year and then you will only earn 1% back. It is important to note that the 4% cash back can be earned at other stations outside of Costco and anywhere that Visa is accepted.

You can check out the full review on the Costco Anywhere Visa® card.

Don’t have a Costco Visa card? No problem! At the pump, Costco accepts Visa, most PIN-based debit cards, and Costco Shop Cards.

You can load a Shop Card in the warehouse using cash or check; this option is only available to members.

6. Kirkland Signature Gas at Costco is Top Tier

Costco may have the lowest gas prices in your area, but they do not skimp on quality. Kirkland Signature gas is Top Tier, meaning it is high quality and could help keep your engine running at its best.

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Top Tier is endorsed by many automotivebrands, including Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. Consumer Reports (subscription required) came out with astudyin 2022 stating that Top Tier gas is worth the extra price. The good news is that Costco gas is already Top Tier and is often the cheapest station. A win-win!

Remember that Costco is currently the only warehouse club to offer Top Tier. Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale do not offer Top Tier gasoline.

Final Thoughts

The best way to ensure that you are getting a deal on fuel is to compare prices in your area and look at warehouse clubs like Costco.

Using apps such as Gas Buddy paired with checking out the best time to head over to your warehouse club may help in saving time and money on your fuel purchase.

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Have you ever purchased gas from Costco? Share your experience in ourClark.com Community!

Article Updates
  • May 14, 2024: Updated current gas prices based on recent purchase savings.
6 Things To Know Before You Buy Gas at Costco Wholesale (2024)

FAQs

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 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.

Do you need a Costco credit card to get gas? ›

Q: How do I pay for my fuel? A: The fuel station is entirely self-serve, with pay-at-the-pump technology. We accept Visa®, most PIN debit cards and Costco Shop Cards. (Exceptions: Oregon and New Jersey are full-service per law).

Is Costco worth it just for gas? ›

Lastly, the gas prices are pretty great at Costco.

I live a nomadic life so I drive a lot and always look for the cheapest 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.

What is the best tier gasoline at Costco? ›

Costco is listed as a TOP TIER™ gasoline retailer. Find out more at www.toptiergas.com. Kirkland Signature™ Gasoline contains five times the EPA detergent requirement in both regular unleaded and premium grades, and is formulated to clean your engine and help your vehicle run like new.

What day of the week is gas cheapest? ›

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 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.

How to save more on Costco gas? ›

And if you have a vehicle that gets worse-than-average fuel efficiency or if you drive more than the average American, your savings could be even greater. Last but certainly not least, if you use the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi to pay for your gas, you could save even more.

How much do you save on gas with a Costco card? ›

While the exact amount of savings you'll get depends on factors like where you live and which club you visit, you can reasonably expect to save around $0.15 to $0.20 per gallon. Let's say you save $0.17 per gallon when you fill up.

Which Costco card is best for gas? ›

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.

Can I use someone else's Costco card? ›

The Costco membership card is non-transferable, but there are several ways to share the experience with family and friends. Anyone with a card can bring up to two guests to the Warehouse during each visit.

Can you still go to Costco if you forgot your card? ›

Costco requires you to show your membership card to even get inside, so if you don't have one, you'll have to speak to the employee at the front door to gain entrance. Simply mention that you're there for any of the reasons listed below, and they should let you in.

Why does everyone like Costco gas? ›

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.

How to get a Costco card for free? ›

Costco doesn't offer free or discounted memberships, but rest assured that the cost of membership can be recovered quickly thanks to massive price savings once you start shopping.

Why is gas so much cheaper at Costco? ›

So why is it so much cheaper than the competition? 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.

What is the best day to fill up gas tank? ›

Best Day of the Week

In general, the best gas savings can be found by filling your tank at the beginning of the week. According to a GasBuddy petroleum analyst, Monday and Tuesday is when gas prices are typically at their cheapest.

What day of the week is fuel cheapest? ›

Based on historical pricing data, the ACCC says the magic day of the week is Wednesday for buying cheaper petrol in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

What time of the day is gas cheapest? ›

Fill Up in the Morning or Late at Night (Temperature Matters) Filling up your gas tank in the morning or late at night might save you a few bucks over time. This is due to how temperature affects the gas stored at the pump.

What time is Costco gas least busy? ›

Drive in between 10 am and noon on a weekday for shorter waiting times in line. Most people tend to pull up during their lunch breaks and after work in the evening on weekdays. Traffic is one-way only at all Costco gas stations to keep it moving quickly.

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