6 Easy Ways to Fill Your Gas Tank for Less

This early burst of warm weather across the country is a reminder that summer, and peak driving season, is looming. But with gas prices already ticking over the $5 a gallon mark for regular, families are feeling the pinch in their budgets more than ever.

GasBuddy.com lets users report and view fuel prices in their area to help others find cheap gas locally. Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst for the website, offered these tips for how you can fill up your gas tank and still save a few bucks.

1. Buying gasoline earlier in week. We find that prices typically rise during the week, but more so in the second half of the week, from Wednesday to Saturday.

2. Gasoline stations near the highway can be a win if there is more than one major truck or travel stop, or a loss if there’s only one station and it’s small in size.

3. Filling up near state lines will save you money, states are more competitive because of any difference in taxes. Shop before you drive, or use an app to find which side is cheaper.

4. Avoid filling up in ritzy or affluent areas- gas can cost more.

5. Fill up earlier in the day. Gasoline is cooler, and therefore more dense. There are devices to ensure accuracy to make sure cold volume is accurate, but when temperature rise, density of gasoline falls, and you get less — and there aren’t devices to check for less density.

6. Fill up in an area with many gasoline stations. Competition will keep prices