Loyal to Sam’s Club? Here’s Why Costco Gas Might Be the Smarter Choice

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Sam’s Club is a good place to buy cheap gas, but Costco might be a better option. Read on to find out why. [[{“value”:”

Signing up for a discount warehouse club may be smarter than ever, considering that many food and household products are currently priced far higher than just a few years ago. When deciding which club to choose, both Sam’s Club and Costco are popular options, especially because they both offer cheap gas.

Sam’s Club and Costco gas prices can be between $0.05 to $0.25 cheaper than the average gallon of gas at your local gas station. But does it matter which discount gas you buy? It does if you want to protect your engine and maximize your fuel economy.

Costco’s premium fuel at discount prices

Unlike Sam’s Club, Costco sells what’s called TOP TIER™ fuel that’s proven to help engines run cleaner and more efficiently.

If you’re skeptical that a certain type of fuel can help your vehicle, I get it. I usually don’t pay much attention to the gas I’m putting in my car either, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

Here’s what some extensive AAA research found about TOP TIER™ fuel a few years ago:

TOP TIER™ fuel is proven to reduce carbon buildup and deposits on intake valves10 of the leading automakers recommend TOP TIER™ fuel for their vehiclesTOP TIER™ fuels help improve fuel economyThe fuel can make engines idle smoother, improve acceleration, and reduce engine knocking

If that weren’t enough, Consumer Reports said recently that “motorists would benefit from using TOP TIER™ gasoline as their primary fuel.”

This doesn’t mean that Sam’s Club gas is terrible for your car, but if you’re looking for a great deal on gas prices and want the best fuel possible, Costco gas is probably the best choice.

You might save on these vehicle costs, as well

In addition to getting higher-quality gas at Costco, you can help protect your budget with some of the club’s other vehicle-related perks. For example, Costco offers free installation with your tire purchase and a five-year road hazard warranty, while Sam’s Club charges $20 per tire for its premium installation.

It’s worth mentioning that while you’ll pay for tire installation at Sam’s Club, the purchase does include four years of roadside assistance, which is a nice perk.

But if you really need to lower your car-related expenses, you should consider Costco’s car insurance option. Costco sells home and auto insurance, and bundling the two could save you tons. Costco says that members who sign up for home and auto insurance save about $600 in their first year on their car insurance premiums.

Finding cheap car insurance is getting harder and harder these days, considering that auto insurance costs have risen more than 18% over the past year.

If you’re considering switching to Costco to save on your insurance costs — and get higher-quality fuel — you can always cancel your Sam’s Club membership. The warehouse club says you can cancel anytime and receive a refund.

All of this means that if you live near Costco, are overpaying for car insurance, and want to keep your car running as efficiently as possible while still paying less for gas, switching to Costco could be an excellent choice.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Chris Neiger has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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