Triangle gas stations say these cards & rewards programs save money. Do they?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Triangle gas prices have risen above $4 per gallon on average.
- Many local gas and grocery rewards programs offer small per‑gallon discounts.
- Some programs provide larger introductory discounts or payment‑method bonuses.
As North Carolina gas prices surge above $4 a gallon on average, here are a couple of ways Triangle drivers can save at the pump.
Fuel prices have risen sharply since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, which has essentially ended shipping across the Strait of Hormuz; about 20% of the world’s oil supply moves through the waterway along the southern border of Iran.
And drivers may need to brace themselves for extended periods of elevated gas prices.
If the conflict were to end today, North Carolina drivers would likely see some relief within days, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. But it could take a year or more for gas prices to return to pre-war levels, De Haan said.
“Ships can’t speed up. They can’t be built overnight, so there’s only a finite amount of capacity that can be utilized to restore global oil inventories to normal levels,” De Haan said. “You can’t account for lost time.”
Several gas station chains in the Triangle, and even some grocery stores, have free rewards programs that promise to help drivers cut down on spending at the pump.
Many programs only discount gas by a few cents per gallon, meaning the savings amount to less than a buck per fill-up. Over time, though, those pennies could add up.
Here are some popular Triangle gas station and grocery store programs that help drivers save money on fuel.
Gas station rewards programs
Circle K: With the company’s membership program, Inner Circle, customers save 3 cents per gallon on every visit.
Drivers can save more with Circle K’s Easy Pay debit card. If you link the card to your checking account and use it to pay for gas, you get 10 cents off per gallon. And that’s after a sweeter introductory offer of 30 cents off per gallon during the first 60 days or 100 gallons purchased.
Learn more about Inner Circle at circlek.com.
Citgo: This chain also has a few flashy deals for new members of its rewards program, Club Citgo.
You’ll get 20 cents off per gallon on your first fill-up, up to 30 gallons. After the first fill-up, you’ll save at least 3 cents per gallon just by being a member. Additional savings are available for customers who fill up frequently, and during one Tuesday and Friday each month.
Paying through the Club Citgo app will save you even more — 2 cents off per gallon after an initial offer of 50 cents off per gallon on your first visit.
If you connect your bank account to the app as a payment method, you’ll save 25 cents per gallon on your first four fill-ups, up to 30 gallons each visit. After that, you’ll save at least 10 cents per gallon, up to 30 gallons, every day.
Learn more about the program at clubcitgo.com.
Exxon Mobil Rewards+: Members rack up savings each time they purchase gas. For each gallon of premium gas, they earn 6 cents in points. For all other fuels, they earn 3 cents in points.
You can earn additional points if you have the Exxon Mobil Direct Debit+ account, if you’re an AARP member or if you purchase more than 100 gallons each month. If you meet all of those requirements, you can earn up to 15 cents or 20 cents per gallon, depending on which type of fuel you purchase.
Every 100 points can be redeemed for $1 in value and used either for gas or toward some in-store purchases. Members must register their Exxon Mobil Rewards+ card to begin redeeming points. Once the card is registered, you can redeem points by entering your phone number and PIN or by using the Exxon Mobil Rewards+ app, in addition to swiping their physical rewards card at the pump.
Points earned in the current calendar year expire on Dec. 31 of the following calendar year.
Learn more about the program at exxonmobilfuels.com.
Sheetz: “Rewardz” members can earn five points on every $1 spent on qualifying in-store and online purchases. Fuel purchases don’t earn points, but “Rewardz” members can redeem points for gas savings.
Loyalty program members also save 3 cents on gas every day.
And unlike other rewards programs, points earned at Sheetz have a long life. They don’t expire until about a year after they’re earned.
Learn more about the program at sheetz.com.
Gas rewards through grocery stores
BJ’s Wholesale Club: The BJ’s Fuel Saver Program lets members save at least 10 cents per gallon, up to 40 gallons or $99 worth of fuel, by purchasing select items in the warehouse store.
Savings are applied to the shopper’s next fill-up, within 30 days.
Members can also apply for the BJ’s One Mastercard credit card, which lets drivers save up to 15 cents per gallon.
Learn more about the program at bjs.com/gas.
Costco: The membership club’s gas prices are generally lower than competing gas stations. But members can save even more with the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi credit card.
Cardholders earn cash back on purchases, including 5% cash back on gas at Costco and 4% on other eligible gas and EV charging purchases.
This deal, though, is available only to Costco members, who pay at least $65 per year to shop at the warehouses. And the credit card is subject to credit approval.
Learn more at costco.com.
Harris Teeter: Customers enrolled in the grocer’s VIC rewards program earn one fuel point for every dollar spent on groceries.
While there’s no limit to the amount of points shoppers can earn each month, fuel points expire at the end of the month after they’re earned. Any points earned in January, for example, should be used by the end of February.
At Harris Teeter Fuel Centers in the Triangle and participating BP and Amoco stations, shoppers can redeem up to 1,000 fuel points per transaction — that would be $1 off per gallon. You need at least 100 fuel points to redeem a discount, and every 100 fuel points saves 10 cents per gallon.
Fuel savings are limited to one purchase of up to 35 gallons of fuel.
Learn more about the program at harristeeter.com.
Lowes Foods: Shoppers earn points by buying groceries using their Fresh Rewards card. For every $100 spent at Lowes Foods, you can save 5 cents per gallon.
The grocer also offers bonus rewards, offering extra gas savings for buying specific products.
Rewards are good for a rolling 30 days, so if you earn 10 cents on the first of the month and 10 cents on the 11th day of the month, you’d have 10 cents on the 31st.
Those discounts can be redeemed at Lowes Foods gas stations or participating Speedway stations. In the Triangle, Lowes Foods has gas stations in Apex, Garner, Raleigh and Wake Forest.
Learn more about the program at lowesfoods.com.
Sam’s Club: Members can apply for the Sam’s Club Mastercard, which offers 5% back on gas purchases on the first $6,000 spent per year. Then it’s 1% back.
Learn more about the card at samsclub.com.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 5:40 AM with the headline "Triangle gas stations say these cards & rewards programs save money. Do they?."
