Pensacola had the lowest average gas price in a Florida metro area on Thursday afternoon, at $4.173 a gallon.
Across the state, gas prices ranged all the way up to $4.658 a gallon in Monroe, which includes the Florida Keys, according to AAA-The Auto Club.
Florida gas prices have jumped 35.6 cents in the past week to a statewide average of $4.519 a gallon as of Thursday, May 7, the highest since the United States-Iran military conflict began Feb. 28.
The average price of regular gasoline now exceeds $4 a gallon in every single county, and even if the Iran war ends soon, experts say gas prices both in Florida as well as nationally are expected to remain high for months to come until global oil production can fully recover.
In the meantime, there are plenty of ways motorists can save at the pump, according to AAA.
Tips to increase fuel economy on your daily drive
AAA on its website offers the following tips:
How to save money on gas
Picking a more fuel-efficient vehicle and properly maintaining it pays off
When buying a car, AAA recommends that consumers look for models that offer the best fuel economy in their class. “For most drivers, an optional larger and/or more powerful engine is unnecessary.”
It is also important to maintain your car, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. “Modern cars don’t need ‘tune-ups,’ but regular service will ensure optimum fuel economy, performance and longevity.”
Motorists should also take their car to a repair shop as soon as possible if the “check engine” light comes on. “This indicates a problem that is causing excessive emissions and is likely reducing fuel economy,” according to AAA.
It is also important for motorists to keep the tires of their vehicles properly inflated. “Under-inflation reduces fuel economy,” AAA notes. “More importantly, tires low on air degrade handling and braking, wear more rapidly and can overheat and blow out.”
Amazon, Walmart, membership clubs offer discounts on fuel purchases
Membership warehouse clubs such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club offer discounted fuel at their members-only gas stations.
In addition, Walmart offers a paid subscription service called “Walmart+” that allows subscribers to save 10 cents per gallon on fuel purchases at Walmart, Exxon, Mobil and Murphy stations, as well as member prices on fuel at Sam’s Club.
And Amazon Prime, through May 29, is offering members 20 cents off per gallon on fuel purchases every Friday at BP, Amoco and participating Thorntons stations in Florida. (The discounts are also available on Fridays through May 29 at participating ampm stations, although the chain’s website does not show any locations in Florida.)
Use an app to find the lowest gas prices near you
The mobile app GasBuddy.com allows motorists to find gas stations with the lowest price in the area wherever they drive, but with a caveat: the prices may not always be accurate or up to the minute as they depend on reports by motorists.
In at least one case recently, a motorist reported gas prices at a station in Florida, but confused the price of ethanol-free gas, which is much more expensive, with the price of regular gasoline.
In another recent case, a motorist reported the price of regular gasoline at a 7-Eleven station in Florida seen earlier in the day, but didn’t actually post it on GasBuddy.com until after the station significantly raised its price.
You can download the app for free and look at local prices instantly. You can also set up a pay account that issues you a debit-like card that links to your checking account.
Other gas-saving apps are also available, including Google Apps, Waze, MapQuest Gas Prices and Gas Guru.
Clayton Park is a journalist for the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA. He covers everything from insurance, utilities and home prices to groceries, gas and auto prices as the Florida consumer pocketbook reporter. If you have news tips, please send them to cpark@usatodayco.com. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://pnj.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola has cheapest gas in Florida, but it’s going up. How to save.
Reporting by Clayton Park, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
