Buy Costco Gas without Costco Membership
A friend of mine just tipped me off on this trick where you can buy gas at Costco without a Costco membership. All you have to do is swipe an American Express card first, when you would normally swipe your membership card, and then swipe it again for payment. Afterwards, it will let you buy the sweet sweet nectar of condensed dinosaur bones at rock bottom prices without the $50/year membership. It’s that simple.
Normally, you have to swipe your Costco Card or the American Express Costco TrueEarnings card in order to authenticate in their gas station systems. It appears that you can simply use any American Express card in the authentication phase because the American Express Costco TrueEarnings card is just an AMEX with a Costco bar code.
I’ve confirmed that this works in Maryland and others have reported success in other states (except those that require an attendant to pump your gas, like New Jersey and Oregon). Locate a Costco nearby (check to make sure it has a Gas Station) and give it a try, Costco gas is usually many cents cheaper than local competitors.
(Photo by shindohd)
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Tags: American Express Costco TrueEarnings, Cars, Costco, Gasoline, Hack, Saving Money
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18 Comments - Share Your Thoughts
Nice hack, but wouldn’t work in Oregon because they don’t let us pump our own gas. Everywhere else is in luck though.
I wonder which states, besides NJ and OR, require an attendant to pump your gas…
I think it’s only NJ and OR. I grew up in Oregon… so that station attendant in Washington state was probably wondering why I pulled up and just remained sitting there in the driver seat for so long before getting out with a red face…
If you’re in Oregon and you need to pump diesel you get to pump your own. Obviously for truckers, but even diesel cars are often the same way.
What about the ethics of purchasing gas at a place that requires you to be a member, when you aren’t a member? A portion of Costco’s cost/profit is recovered via membership fees. The pump says “members only” on it; so it’s pretty clear what the requirements are. Seems like swiping an alternate card is just like using a master key to steal someone’s car, except this is only the gas part of the car.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not up on a soap box. I certainly have taken advantage of similar situations myself… But its something we all should think about. We wouldn’t like it if it were our business.
its still stealing so no thanks!
Wow touchy crowd.
Well, I have no qualms about this so thanks for the tip! I don’t have an Amex card though so I guess I should go hunting for one……….there are so many out there!
ceo: I think the Amex Simply Cash is a good card, it’s 5% cashback on gas.
Oh really? Thank Jim!
You saved me from having to do research. Does there happen to be a sign up bonus also? Ok, maybe I’m asking for too much.
Costco gasoline has 10% ethanol, so don’t think it’s an amazing deal… just an ok deal. They recently posted stickers on the tanks in Ohio to inform consumers.
pretty unethical. why don’t you just get a membership?
Also in Rockland County,New York State there is a law which states that you are NOT allowed to have different gas prices for members and non members. Therefore everyone pays the same price.
I love to save money but, I value honesty more than I value a bargain. My 16 year old backed into a neighbor’s car. No one saw it and my MIL told us to tell the police that my husband was driving so our insurance wouldn’t go up on a minor driver. I told her that it would save us money but cost so much more in teaching all of my kids to lie. I would rather pay more in insurance than to have earned the disrespect of my children.
That does not apply. No law says you must sell to everyone. The price is not different to non-members, it’s simply not available to non-members.
..unless.. of course, you stick an AMEX card in the thing.
As for their prices? It’s all a rouse. Gas prices are the same at Safeway, Costco, whatever. Card or no card. A 5 cent difference means nothing. You can find 1 to 50 cent differences on the same street sometimes. Closer to the freeway you get, the more it costs.
Jim….I just applied for Simply Cash and got approved instantly. Can’t wait for the new card so I can fill up at my local Costco (my god, do I sound excited to pay for gas? haha)
Anyhow, I was curious if you had one too and if you’re planning on getting it knowing this new hack.
Or… you could just become a member and find out for yourself. The TrueEarnings from Amex through Costco also has 5% on gas for business members and 3% for consumers plus no annual caps and 3% for dining out and traveling, 1% elsewhere! It comes in the form of a check where one can cash it in at Costco not a credit on your statement. No annual fee as long as your a member or after 364 days of being Costco can refund your membership in full. Why cheat the system?
The 10% Ethanol is now federally mandated.
Costco memberships are inexpensive (you can find sign up coupons all the time) and if all you did was fill up on gas with the membership, it would pay for itself after a dozen or so stops (avg. $.10 savings).
There is a difference between being frugal, a cheapskate, and a thief. Highly disagree with this post. Is your next one going to be about bit torrents?
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