Unless you have an electric car, travel by public transport, or commute from home to work and vice versa on your own, you will have to pay for your gas. It doesn't matter how thrifty you are or how carefully you plan your trips in advance, because if the price of crude oil goes up, the price of gasoline will go up as well. But isn't there some way to get free gas? It's possible. You can learn a few tricks to try at the gas pump, as well as how to get vouchers for free gas and ease the burden of filling gas a bit.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Get Extra Gas at the Pump
Step 1. Print your receipts and check the dispensers
Some do not return the value of what you pay. If you want free gas, it's important to make sure you pay for something that matches what's advertised. Sometimes the pumps are miscalibrated, and if this is the case, you can get some extra gas for free.
- Try filling a container whose dimensions you know very well, such as a gas can, instead of your tank. Quickly use a calculator to make sure the price you're paying matches the amount you got. If not, go in and ask for a refund or extra gas.
- If you find a pump in your city that is probably broken, keep going there and complain every time it malfunctions. Print your receipts every time you buy gas and check everything you pay.
Step 2. Shake the hose
On some dispensers, even newer multi-jet dispensers, you can grasp the dispenser nozzle with one hand, grasp the hose 2-3 feet above the nozzle with the other hand, and shake firmly. down, like you're using a whip. A small amount of gasoline will squirt from the nozzle each time you do this and will not show up on the meter.
Warning: This can be extremely dangerous as it could damage the dispenser or injure you. It's also a good way to get in trouble and a very inefficient way to fill up your tank
Step 3. Keep the dispenser in the tank for as long as possible
Often times, a little gasoline will come out even after the flow is cut off. Gently shake the hose and let the rest of the gasoline drain into the tank. It won't be the same as filling the tank for free, but you could get a little more than what you paid for.
Step 4. Try the secret agent trick
The story goes that, during the Nixon administration, government agents who tracked down members of the mafias knew a secret trick to use in gas pumps and get free gasoline. According to this story, some of these pumps still exist and will help you get gas for free, if you know the trick.
- The trick is to put the nozzle in your tank and then pump the handle three times quickly, twice slowly, twice slowly again, and three times quickly, and then use the spout as normal.
- This trick has been widely discredited. Gas stations in the 1970s were analog, and most multi-port dispensers today work digitally. Still, is it worth the try?
Method 2 of 2: Other Methods
Step 1. Stay in a hotel that offers free gas as a reward
Book a hotel room directly from a chain that offers gas cards as reward vouchers for frequent bookings, such as at Choice Hotels. Some hotel reservation services, such as "Hotels.com" and "Expedia.com" also offer gas vouchers as a reward for making your reservations through their portals.
- Some smaller chains or individual hotels also offer gas vouchers to their guests. Some Kensington or Personality hotels offer courtesy $ 10 gas vouchers for one night's stay.
- If the hotel you plan to stay at doesn't have the gas vouchers it advertised or the free gas offer, ask for more information. Sometimes the package that includes the gas voucher costs a little more than the standard room package, but you may still save a bit once you consider the money you would save on gas.
Step 2. Offer your vehicle as a mobile billboard
Drivertising companies pay a monthly fee in exchange for the right to place ads, which can range from rear window stickers to full covers for your vehicle.
- Drivertising companies you can research include "gasforfree.com" and "freegashelp.com." Often times, these deals are only available to frequent drivers who average more than 1600 km (1000 miles) per month. However, some agencies will make exceptions, especially if you live near a university or areas with a lot of pedestrian activity.
- Other requirements include having a well-maintained late-model vehicle, a clean driving record, and valid insurance. You can earn a bonus or qualify for special advertising if you drive a specialty vehicle or have an occupation as a pizza delivery boy, which requires you to drive long distances every day.
Step 3. Become a police officer
Have you ever noticed that you've never seen a patrol fill up the tank at a gas station? That's because police officers in metropolitan areas often fill their tanks for free at targeted and guarded locations. This only applies to patrol units, not your daily drivers, but it is an effective way to get gas for free and get around town on city money.
Other jobs that allow you to use vehicles with a full tank of gas include jobs in parks and other departments in the city. Generally, you won't have to pay for gas or you will be reimbursed later
Step 4. Take other people and make them pay
Carpooling can be a great way to get someone else to pay for gas. If you're taking someone somewhere, ask them if they'd mind paying for some gas for your tank or giving you some money to help cover that expense. It would be a totally fair request.
Some state and local governments also offer gas vouchers as incentives for carpooling. Sometimes the offers will be for other types of vouchers, such as gift certificates to restaurants or coffee shops. Still, you will get free stuff
Step 5. Ask for free gas the next time you rent a car
If you're traveling and need a car, you can sometimes fill up the tank for free. Some car rental companies offer free gas for certain types of rentals or as part of other offers. If you don't have a well-formed opinion about the car you drive or are willing to negotiate, it could be your lucky day.
Step 6. Participate in survey programs that offer rewards and credit card rewards programs
Generally, you can redeem your rewards points for gift cards at the provider of your choice, which sometimes includes gas stations or gas cards that come with some money already refilled. This can be a great way to get some extra free gas at a pump.
Step 7. Open a new checking or savings account
Some banks offer free gasoline as an incentive to attract new members. You should be aware of these types of offers and try to subscribe to a new savings account to save all the money that you will save at the pump.