I paid $60 this week to take my car’s gas tank from empty to full.
That has to be my first time paying that much for gas in years. But I’m determined to put my blues to good use.
Because you’re paying more for gas these days too, right?
Average gas prices in Indianapolis are just over $4 per gallon for regular unleaded, according to AAA. That’s slightly higher than the state and national average, and it’s about 80 cents more than we were paying here this time last year.
First off, what’s going on?
The joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has led to higher oil prices.
About 20% of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which runs off the southern coast of Iran. But that body of water has effectively been closed, increasing the price of oil.
Tips and tricks
The good news is there are plenty of ways to either save on gas or find the cheapest options around you.
The bad news is there might be too many tools to choose from. And since most of them are free, you can expect a fair number of ads and pop-ups while you’re scrolling.
Here are the ones I tried. (I skipped the apps that double as a “shop and earn” program.)
AAA Gas Price Finder (Apple | Android)
AAA’s gas price tool looks like the regular maps app on your phone. You can move around on the map to find gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations.
The gas price finder is part of AAA’s normal app, but you don’t have to be a member to use it.
GasBuddy (Apple | Android | web)
GasBuddy is easy to use. You can put in your location and then see gas prices nearby. The top of the page shows a snapshot of the least and most expensive options.
From Mirror Indy’s office on March 24, I could see the cheapest option was $3.69 a gallon about a mile and a half away. The most expensive option was $4.19.
FuelUp (Apple)
The free version of FuelUp shows a list of gas prices. You can filter based on price and location.
You have to subscribe to see the gas station map, which the app says is best for “serious drivers.” Whatever that means. A lifetime subscription is $24.99.
That’s right, the maps app you might already be using can show you gap prices.
I did this by searching “gas,” and it showed me nearby gas stations. Not every option showed a price, but it’s still a convenient option if you’re using Google Maps anyway.
Note: I couldn’t replicate this with Apple Maps on my iPhone.
Use your fuel points
I almost always get gas at Kroger, and I almost never use my fuel points.
I don’t have a good reason, other than I don’t want to take the extra 15 seconds to put in a phone number. That’ll change going forward, though.
CNBC has a list of other rewards programs from BP, Exxon Mobil, Shell, Circle K and Speedway.
IndyGo exists. So do trails.
I did not forget about the bus.
The best way to save money on gas is to not use it at all.
Depending on where you live and where you’re going, an IndyGo could be less expensive and more convenient. The transit agency updated its prices at the beginning of the year.
I use the Transit app (Apple | Android) if I’m taking the bus. Bonus: The app works for pretty much any other city you go to.
And if walking or cycling is more your speed, you might be able to take advantage of Indy’s trail network to get where you’re going.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers housing and labor. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick and Bluesky @tyfenwick.bsky.social.
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