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Friday proved to be the worst day to fuel a vehicle in terms of cost and wait times, according to smartphone app GasBuddy. More specifically, 5 pm Friday is the time to avoid, as stations nationwide reported that’s when they are busiest, and, according to GasBuddy, also when prices peaked.
In general, weekends tend to be the worst times to fill up for those who want the lowest prices.
The best day to save money on fill ups and top offs is Monday, although for those wanting to avoid waiting in lines, Sunday proved to be the least busy. Monday was also the best day to buy gas in 2018 and 2017, according to GasBuddy.
Within Washington state, Monday was the best day to buy gas; Friday was the worst, although in Seattle, Sunday was the best day and Thursday was the worst.
GasBuddy’s analysis for first quarter 2019 found the first day of the work week offered the lowest average gas price in 30 states. Commuters looking to avoid the lines should fill-up on Monday or Tuesday between 7 – 10 a.m.
“While filling up on a Sunday can save time, it doesn’t save money,” says Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Our data shows that filling up on a Monday morning each week can collectively save drivers $2.1 billion and avoid the possibility of playing bumper cars at the pumps.”
Many metro areas nationwide are seeing the largest seasonal rise in prices since 2012, according to GasBuddy, which reported average prices in the U.S. are up 50 cents per gallon since January. “Prices may continue to soar through Memorial Day,” the report noted.
GasBuddy is reported to be the leading source for crowdsourced, real-time fuel prices at more than 150,000 gas station convenience stores in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Since adding a fuel savings program, Pay with GasBuddy, in 2017, it claims to have saved American drivers more than $6 million at the pumps.