Even though prices have dropped from the all-time highs we saw a couple of years ago, fueling up your vehicle still takes a big chunk out of your monthly household budget. There are a variety of savvy ways to save at the pump, from keeping your car serviced to getting a credit card that offers fuel rewards. But if you’re wondering whether you should sign up for a warehouse club membership to avoid high gas prices, and, if so, which one, here are the benefits of a Sam’s Club membership and how you can get discounts at Sam’s Club Fuel Centers.
Read on to find out how Sam’s Club gas works and the savings it has to offer so you can decide for yourself if you need a Sam’s Club membership.
How Does Sam’s Club Membership Work?
Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart, Inc., is a wholesale club with nearly 600 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico. To shop at a Sam’s Club store or online at SamsClub.com, you must pay an annual membership fee. Members of Sam’s Club get discounts on everything from food and household items like cleaning supplies to tech gadgets, toys and furniture, and they also receive access to money-saving perks, including a majorly popular one: fueling up for less at exclusive, members-only Sam’s Club Fuel Centers.
What Is Sam’s Club Gas and How Does It Work?
Current Sam’s Club members can head to Sam’s Club Fuel Centers to get discounted gas. These fuel centers are open only to current Sam’s Club members with valid membership which you’ll need to either swipe at the pump or show to a gas station attendant. Walmart+ members can also use and get member pricing at Sam’s fueling stations.
How Much Does Sam’s Club Gas Cost?
Gas prices fluctuate at Sam’s Club Fuel Centers, just like they fluctuate at other gas stations, but expect to save anywhere from $0.05 to $0.50 per gallon over other businesses.
For example, a recent search of the ZIP code 14304 showed Sam’s Club charging $3.07/gallon while the next cheapest nearby station was $3.56 (for a $0.50/gallon savings). In ZIP code 92708, Sam’s Club was at $4.29/gallon, while the other close stations were $4.39 and more ($0.10/gallon savings). In ZIP code 60804, Sam’s Club is currently at $3.65/gallon, while the next-cheapest station was charging $4.05 ($.40/gallon savings).
How Much Does Sam’s Club Membership Cost?
In order to get gas at Sam’s Club Fuel Centers, you have to be a Sam’s Club member. There are two tiers of Sam’s Club membership:
- Regular Sam’s Club Membership is $50 annually.
- Sam’s Club Plus Membership is $110. You get all the same excellent savings on items in Sam’s Club and online at SamsClub.com as regular club members, plus added perks like extended shopping hours, 2% Sam’s Cash on in-club purchases, free shipping and free curbside pickup at Sam’s Club stores.
Both Sam’s Club membership tiers allow you to add one other member of your household to your account.
How Much Do Sam’s Club Members Save on Gas?
If your gas tank holds 15 gallons and you fuel up once a week at one of the above locations with $0.10 to $0.50 in savings per gallon, you will likely save upwards of $100 a year, making this an easy “yes” to signing up for a Sam’s Club membership since you’ll more than earn back the cost for regular Club membership.
If you have a 15-gallon car, and you’re only going to fill up once a month at a Sam’s Club Fuel Center, and each time you fuel up you save $0.14/gallon, over the course of a year, you’ll save $25.
Where Do You Find Sam’s Club Gas Stations?
Either search in the Sam’s Club app or online at SamsClub.com for the closest store to you. Choose the specific Sam’s Club location you want to visit. See if there is a fuel center at your local club by checking the “Services at your club” section to confirm. If there is a fuel center, you can check the current price of gasoline there. If you want, you can go to GasBuddy.com to compare Sam’s Club prices to other locations near you.
What Are Sam’s Club Gas Hours?
Unlike many gas stations that are open 24/7, Sam’s Club Fuel Centers have more limited hours. They are typically open:
- Monday to Saturday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Sunday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Your Club’s fuel hours will be listed under the Club details.
Is Sam’s Club Membership Worth It if You Aren’t Shopping at Sam’s Club?
If you’re going to take advantage of Sam’s Club savings in stores and online and gas savings, it’s an easy yes to sign up for a membership to Sam’s Club.
If you aren’t going to shop at Sam’s Club, this becomes a maybe. Do you live near a Sam’s Club Fuel Center and will you typically be filling up during their open hours? If so, you have a better chance of making back your membership fee. Or do you tend to fill up your car in all sorts of locations, and at different times including evenings or early mornings? Then it’s not enough to earn back your annual membership. That leads us to one more suggestion for a way to get Sam’s Club gas: Walmart+ membership.
Can Walmart+ Members Save at Sam’s Club Fuel Centers?
Yes! Walmart+ members receive member pricing on fuel at Sam’s Club Fuel Centers. In fact, Walmart+ members save at approximately 13,000 stations around the country and get $0.10 off per gallon at Exxon and Mobil stations. You need to use the Walmart+ membership app to get those discounts when you’re at the gas station.
Walmart+ costs $98/year, so you’ll need to use the other membership perks to make this worth your while, but if you were thinking about Walmart+ anyway for grocery delivery, in-store savings and other benefits, it might make more sense to you than a Sam’s Club membership.
The Bottom Line
There are some real perks to Sam’s Club membership, including the savings on gas. Once you do the math on where you’ll be filling up and how often, and if you plan on shopping at Sam’s Club, you may find that a Sam’s Club membership is right for you. The key question, however, is how often you’ll be able to utilize Sam’s Club gas stations. Due to their more limited hours and locations, you’ll need to plan your regular fill-ups (is there one on your way to work, for example?) and plot out Sam’s locations for your road trips.
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