Best gas stations in 2020: Fuel quality, discounts and convenience
Vehicle electrification may be on the rise, but electric vehicles will not push cars and trucks with internal combustion away from their place as quickly (especially with amazingly low gas prices recently). Until this transition, the majority of American drivers will remain committed to the network of service stations across the country to keep our cars, trucks and SUVs running.
It can rightly be said that most drivers are unlikely to think much about the quality of a gas station unless it is either significantly better than the average or worryingly terrible. After all, you only make a short pit stop for fuel and coffee, don’t you? Why get out of the way? The fact is that all of these getaways add up over time, and the quality of your local gas station not only affects your car, but also your personal satisfaction.
Oh, one more thing before we start.
Tips for refueling coronavirus professionals
You’re likely to avoid being in public as much as possible during the pandemic, and that’s wise. But there will undoubtedly be times when you have to drive to get the bare essentials, and that could also mean that you have to refuel your journey. In addition to wearing gloves for handling the pump and hand disinfectant during this period COVID-19You may want to download a smartphone app for the gas station of your choice. Most of these apps allow you to pay from your car so you don’t have to touch potentially contaminated scanners, keyboards, and gas pump card receipts. If you don’t go to the supermarket, you’ll be less tempted to grab a diet candy bar or sugary soda. It is a win-win situation.
Fuel quality is only one of the factors in determining the best gas stations.
marathon
How we got on this list
To make it easier for you to choose where you want to refuel, we have compiled a list of the 10 best petrol station brands for you and your trip. How did we get on this list? There are four key factors to consider: fuel quality, number of gas stations (ubiquitous), overall customer satisfaction, and credit card reward programs.
Top tier gasoline – yes, there is a difference
Let’s start with your car. There are strict rules that regulate what gets into your fuel tank. However, these standards do not necessarily mean that you are offered the best fuel. That’s where Leading group Gas comes in. Top-of-the-range gasoline contains a concentration of detergent added that is higher than the EPA minimum. This can result in a cleaner engine and overall improved performance in terms of both performance and fuel economy. Don’t take our word for it either. This 2016 study by AAA (PDF) explains in detail how first-class petrol can make a real difference in quality without significantly affecting your wallet. For this purpose, we have excluded any company that has not committed to using top-class gas universally (e.g. 7-Eleven).
When it comes to customer satisfaction, the Sinclair dinosaur stands head, neck and shoulders above the rest.
Sinclair
Customer satisfaction
For customer service, we looked around for GasBuddy’s Top 101 Fuel and Convenience Brand reports Q3 2019 and be 2019 Best of the Best summary. These reports examine over 8.3 million reviews and ratings in the GasBuddy fuel price and navigation appand an analysis of 94 million consumer visits to stations. The results analyze criteria such as customer service, cleanliness, lighting and even the coffee stack. For the purposes of this list, we have taken the largest chains (most with more than 4,000 locations) with the best overall experience, and ranked them accordingly.
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BP
BP recently closed and set up its old award program BPme, an app-based gas rewards program This allows members to save 5 cents per gallon at each of their 7,200 locations. As long as you spend more than $ 100 a month, there is no cap on the bonus.
The company also offers two credit cards. The standard bonus increases the BPme bonuses by 1% cashback bonus on all purchases without fuel at participating stations. The higher level BP Visa credit card Decreases 10 cents per gallon, earns 3% cashback for groceries and 1% cashback for all purchases outside of a BP station.
BP performed particularly well on GasBuddy’s customer service metrics and achieved midpack results for outdoor lighting and toilets to conquer the overall crown.
Chevron
Of America’s largest nationwide chains, Chevron scores highest overall customer satisfaction scores. Its reach spans more than 7,800 stores, and while some gas stations offer convenient grocery stores, a location in North Hollywood goes beyond gasoline. It is home to Coriander Mexican grill, one of Burrito spots with the highest rating in San Fernando Valley, California.
Frequent Chevron buyers might consider becoming a Techron Advantage credit card holder. Members can save up to 7 cents per gallon on refill, while those with the Visa Techron Advantage credit card You can earn 10 to 20 cent bonuses, provided you earn enough on qualified monthly purchases.
Mobile
Both Exxon and Mobil have “more than 11,000” branded gas stations nationwide. So it is certain that you will encounter one during your travels. While you’re there, you can thank Mobil for saving time since it was the first gasoline dealer to introduce payment at the pump. With the Exxon Mobile Rewards Program, you can save 3 to 6 cents per gallon by collecting points from in-store purchases. Next the company Rewards Plus app With this option, you can pay for gasoline purchases in your car and track your savings.
Sign up for a Exxon Mobil Smart Card The gas premium credit card automatically offers savings of 6 cents per gallon with no minimum purchase. The card issued by Citibank includes online account management and a monthly listing to track gas spending.
Mobile stores ranked number 2 in terms of cleanliness (behind Chevron) and toilets, but the chain dropped to number 5 in Gasbuddy’s coffee survey. So if you’re a Java junkie, you might want to look elsewhere.
Bowl
With over 14,000 locations, Shell is America’s largest national gas station chain. However, overall customer service is mediocre, according to GasBuddy respondents. Like some of its competitors, Shell has a robust rewards program that allows members to get 5, 10, or 20 cents a gallon off their purchases at gas stations every day.
Shell’s Fuel Rewards With credit cards you can also save money at the pump. Both gas cards offer either 5 or 10 cents of savings per gallon of gasoline depending on the card, but both are limited to 20 gallons. They also offer a 10% discount on some non-Shell eligible purchases, while the Mastercard offers additional discount options for restaurants and other qualified purchases. Conveniently, the discounts earned through the rewards program stack with those provided by the credit card.
marathon
You will find 5,600 branded petrol stations in the Midwest, South and Northeast. Although this gas company does not have a network as large as some of its competitors, it holds its own with a GasBuddy customer service ranking over Shell and Chevron.
Marathon no longer has a credit card available, which is a shame because they saved 25 cents per gallon. Are currently members of the Make It Count reward program You can save 5 cents per gallon if you only participate.
Toy collectors at gas stations who have been annoyed by Marathon’s purchase of Hess in 2014 can take comfort in the fact that Marathon sells its own replica trucks year-round (although they can still camp in camps hesstoytruck.com for vacation releases). You can also enjoy a cup of above average gas station coffee.
Exxon
For one of the largest gasoline dealers, Exxon cited the bottom of GasBuddy’s general satisfaction report for larger gas station chains. Like the dual brand Mobil, Exxon’s reward program saves customers more per gallon when they buy premium fuel.
Although the brand has a low rank, 58 million drivers refuel their cars, trucks and SUVs at one of their locations every month. The Exxon Mobil Smart Card With the gas credit card, you save 6 cents per gallon at these locations, as with any mobile, along with a handful of other bonus rewards.
Sinclair
Sinclair proudly wears the source of its fossil fuels as a badge and has the highest customer satisfaction ranking of any item on our list. With just over 1,500 locations in 29 states, you won’t find Sinclair’s legendary dinosaur logo everywhere, but if you do, it’s probably your best bet.
Sinclair Green Card gas premium card holders do not currently benefit from immediate savings on the pump, but the card functions as an interest-free, multi-purpose account with no banking. Like other cards, it can be paired with the Dinopay app, a helpful tool that makes transactions safe and easy.
Sunoco
While Sinclair had the highest customer rating on our list, Sunoco had the lowest after just missing the bottom three places.
However, with top tier petrol and a network of around 5,322 branches, Sunoco is higher than most other petrol stations. If you want it to be your point of contact, sign up for one Sunoco Rewards credit card has a saving rate of 5 cents per gallon, with no restrictions or restrictions.
76
Discover the iconic orange ball of a 76 gas station and you are in good hands. With the third best customer service ranking on our list, the station only runs 1,800 stores, but it’s worth visiting if there is one nearby.
76 not only supply first-class gas to 76 customers rewards credit card can shave 10 cents per gallon of gasoline. Combine this with the My 76 Mobile App and you get a 15 cents bonus for the first 30 gallons. The app itself is a pretty handy tool for storing various payment options like Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Arco
Arco stations, which are mainly operated on the west coast, are characterized by low fuel prices and do not accept credit cards. While some Arco service station owners have recently changed this policy, transaction fees may apply, which may not be recognizable from the outset. In any case, the quality and price of top-quality gasoline are hard to beat.
Avoid going there on Fridays to see how your local gas station looks so empty.
Sunoco
One last tip for a gas station
Gasbuddy is the busiest day of the week at petrol stations in our country on Fridays at 5 p.m. This is the busiest hour of the week, followed by 4:00 p.m. and 12 noon if you want to avoid the crowds – a particularly sensible step in this COVID-19 era – you should refuel on days other than payday.
Written by Alex Kalogiannis for Roadshow.
