8 Ways to Save Money on Gas in Switzerland

Although the cost of gasoline in Switzerland may be high, there are simple ways to cut your fuel spending without cutting down on driving. Take a look at these moneyland.ch tips for fuel savings.

1. Find the cheapest station on your route

In Switzerland, fuel prices vary between regions and individual gas stations. If you find yourself driving the same routes most of the time, finding filling stations near your regular routes that consistently offer low prices on fuel and tanking at those stations can help you save a lot of money. If you regularly travel to a region where gas prices are generally cheaper, consider tanking up while there rather than at home.

Online gas price platforms (like TCS Benzinpreis-Radar, Benzin-Preis and Fuelo) can provide a reference point for finding affordable gas stations in Switzerland. Gas price comparisons like Benzinpreis-Blitz, and those offered by ADAC (Germany) and ÖAMTC (Austria) are useful when you drive to neighboring countries.

2. Use your auto club membership discounts

If you drive a car, chances are you might have an auto club membership just in case you ever need roadside assistance. It is worth noting that Swiss auto clubs partner with fuel retailers to help their members get discounts. In most cases, discounts come with special gas cards which are only available to club members.

For example, ACS members can get an AgipPLUS-ACS card that knocks 5 centimes off the price of each liter of gas at Swiss Agip stations and an ACS Migrol card that knocks 5 centimes off each liter at Migrol gas stations. TCS members can get a TCS Tamoil card (5-centimes-per-liter discount at Swiss Tamoil stations) and a TCS BP card (3 centimes off each liter of gasoline at all Swiss BP stations, and 4 centimes off at one BP station of your choice).

3. Pay with Reka money

You can use Reka Pay to buy fuel at Coop Pronto, BP and Avia gas stations (including self-service station pumps) at full face value.

4. Take advantage of loyalty discounts and gas cards

If you tank at “brand-name” stations, make sure to take advantage of possible discounts. Coop’s gas discount vouchers are often handed out at Coop Pronto stores and are also available online. These can be redeemed at Coop gas stations.

Many Swiss fuel retailers issue gas cards, but in many cases these do not provide real saving benefits for drivers. However, some gas station operators do provide discounts or rewards when you use their gas cards to pay at their stations. The guide to Swiss gas cards explains which gas cards can save you money.

5. Avoid highway-stop tanking

Highway gas stations often charge higher rates than smaller gas stations. Try to fill up at a low-cost gas station ahead of a trip to avoid having to tank at an expensive filling station en route. A number of mobile apps that clearly show gas stations near you are available, and these provide an easy way to find off-highway gas stations as you travel.

6. Service your car

Keeping your car in good running condition has a direct effect on the amount of fuel it takes to from A to B. Changing the motor oil on schedule, maintaining correct tire pressure and keeping the motor tuned will noticeably cut your fuel consumption.

7. Drive economically

Revving the engine ahead of each start, trying to get from 0-100 kmph in the shortest possible amount of time, driving long distances in low gears and lugging around unnecessary weight are all fun and easy ways to waste a lot of gas. Running the air-con when the weather doesn’t call for it is another common gas waster. Driving at high speeds is not only dangerous, it also uses more gas than driving the same distance at a lower speed.

8. Use the right credit card

If you use credit cards to pay for gas, make sure to use credit cards that reward you with cash back or points that have real monetary value. You can filter and sort Swiss credit cards based on the rewards they deliver in the moneyland.ch credit card comparison.

More on this topic:
Money-saving tips for car owners in Switzerland
How to save on car insurance in Switzerland
Interactive Swiss credit card comparison
Swiss gas cards compared