Anyone who’s driven past a Costco gas station has likely seen a winding line at the retailer’s pumps.
But who can blame anyone willing to wait?
The warehouse club boasts “consistently low, member-exclusive prices.” And comparing Costco’s gas prices to those of nearby stations typically confirms that Costco’s prices are less than local averages.
Now, Costco has implemented some changes that may make its gas stations even more worthwhile for its members.
Extended gas station hours
During a recent quarterly earnings call, Costco president and CEO Ron Vachris explained that gas stations are now open for an additional hour, and some are opening up earlier too. The ultimate goal, Vachris said, is “to make filling up at Costco more convenient for our members.”
Not all gas stations got an extra hour — it varies by location, but some have had their hours expanded even further. Some stations open about three hours before their corresponding warehouse and stay open a couple of hours after the warehouse.
Visit Costco’s website to see what the hours are at nearby stations. You may even be able to compare prices ahead of time, since they’re typically listed on the site.
More gas pumps
Costco is also boosting its gas business by adding fuel pumps. Vachris said 50 to 60 Costco gas station locations in the U.S. were in different phases of expansion as of March.
Examples of Costco locations with gas stations that are under expansion, or recently were expanded or received local government approval to be expanded, include Brighton, Michigan; Henderson, Nevada; Coral Springs, Florida; and Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
In many cases, Costco is simply adding new pumps to existing gas stations. But in other cases, the changes are more involved. For example, in Brighton, Michigan, the Costco gas station will be relocated to accommodate more pumps. In Coral Springs, Florida, an exit will be reworked — by converting it to a right-turn-only exit — to prevent car accidents as part of the gas station expansion there.
More cash back on gas for cardholders
Costco members with the Costco Anywhere Visa Card get more rewards than other members, and that’s especially true at the gas station. The highest cash-back rate cardholders can earn on their Costco credit card is for gas — and it’s even higher now.
The previous cash-back rate at the gas pumps was 4%, and in late 2024 it was upped to 5%. The cash-back rate for electric vehicle (EV) charging is unchanged, though, at 4%.
Those cash-back rates are only applicable on the first $7,000 spent on gas or EV charging per year. The rate drops to 1% after that.
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