SAN DIEGO — Gas prices in San Diego climbed to $5.23 per gallon this week, a 73-cent increase over the past month and five cents overnight alone, according to AAA. At one Mobil station on Pacific Highway near the airport, prices reached $6.29 per gallon for unleaded.
California drivers are paying $1.73 more per gallon than the national average of $3.47, a gap that AAA attributes in part to U.S.-Iran tensions driving up crude oil prices. AAA reports that every one-dollar increase in crude oil translates to roughly a two-cent increase at the pump.
For drivers without a loyalty program or membership, many are paying more than five dollars a gallon across the county.
Stacking can add up to 30 to 40 cents off per gallon
Experts and consumer advocates recommend “stacking,” which means combining a station loyalty discount, grocery store fuel points, and a cash-back credit card on the same fill-up. When timed with a near-empty tank and a large grocery redemption, the savings can reach 30 to 40 cents off per gallon.
Traps to avoid
Not all rewards programs deliver real savings. Here are three common mistakes drivers make…