4 Best Gas Apps to Use While Pulling a Trailer

Neighbors Trailer

Sep 10, 2023
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6 min read
gas app

Fuel is one of the biggest variable costs when you tow a car trailer rental across town or across the country. The right gas app can trim that cost, help you plan stops on long hauls, and keep your trip on schedule. This guide walks through the apps that actually make a difference for drivers towing a car, and how to use them together for the best result.

Why Fuel Apps Matter More When You're Towing

A loaded car trailer adds meaningful weight and wind resistance to your tow vehicle. That extra load can cut your normal MPG by 20 to 40 percent depending on the trailer, the load, and your speed. When a 400 mile trip suddenly uses 40 percent more fuel, a smart gas app can turn a bad stop into a great one and save you real money at the pump.

The Top Gas Apps for Towing a Car Trailer Rental

1. GasBuddy

GasBuddy is the most widely used fuel price app in the US and is still the first app most tow drivers install. Its crowd-sourced price feed means you get real-time pricing from stations nearby and along your route. The route planning feature is especially useful when you are pulling a trailer, since it lets you filter by diesel availability, truck-friendly layouts, and current prices across multiple brands. The Pay with GasBuddy card saves several cents per gallon on top of the posted discount.

2. Upside

Upside works as a cash-back layer on top of whatever station you are already stopping at. You claim an offer before fueling, fill up, snap the receipt, and earn cash back. For a long towing trip with multiple fills, Upside can return anywhere from $0.10 to $0.40 per gallon. That math adds up quickly when a tank on a 3/4 ton truck runs 25 to 30 gallons.

3. Waze

Waze is primarily a navigation app, but its built-in fuel price layer is excellent. Because Waze already routes you turn-by-turn, checking the cheapest pump on your path takes two taps. Waze is also the best of this group for spotting truck-friendly routes, low-clearance warnings, and weigh station alerts, all of which matter when you have a loaded car trailer behind you.

4. Gas Guru

Gas Guru pulls fuel price data from the Oil Price Information Service, so the numbers tend to be steady and well-vetted. The interface is simple, no sign-up is required, and the station list highlights pumps that fit larger rigs. For first-time renters who want a no-login option, Gas Guru is a solid pick.

Average Fuel Savings Per Tank by App

Based on typical user reports across a 25 gallon tank fill, here is how the apps commonly stack up on savings per tank when towing a car trailer rental:

Bar graph showing average fuel savings per tank by gas app for car trailer towing

NeighborsTrailer.com

Features to Compare When Choosing a Gas App

Not every app is built the same. The right choice depends on how you tow, how often, and where. Here is a quick comparison of the most important features for car trailer drivers.

App	Crowd-Sourced Prices	Route Planner	Cash Back	Truck-Friendly Filter
GasBuddy	Yes	Yes	Pay with GasBuddy card	Yes
Upside	No, partner offers	No	Yes, per receipt	Limited
Waze	Yes	Yes, full navigation	No	Partial
Gas Guru	No, OPIS feed	Limited	No	Yes

How to Use Gas Apps Together on a Tow Trip

The best fuel strategy uses two apps in combination rather than relying on one. Here is the pattern that most experienced car trailer haulers follow. Start the trip with Waze running as your navigation base layer. Cross-check pump prices in GasBuddy against the stations on your route. Before you pull in, claim the station's offer inside Upside so the cash-back credit lands in your account after you fuel. If you do not have time to fuss with multiple apps, Gas Guru with its clean no-login list is a solid middle-ground option.

For first-time renters who are still learning the ropes of towing, our beginners guide to choosing the right car trailer rental walks through the most common rookie mistakes that quietly raise your fuel bill, like pulling the wrong trailer class for your vehicle.

Tips to Improve MPG While Towing, Beyond the Apps

Gas apps shave dollars off each fill, but driving habits move the needle even more. Slow down. Fuel economy drops sharply above 65 MPH with a trailer behind you. Keep tires at the recommended pressure for both the tow vehicle and the trailer. Reduce idle time during pickup and drop-off. Check that the trailer is level so drag stays minimized. Pair these habits with the right app stack and you can noticeably shrink the fuel cost of the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which gas app saves the most when towing a car trailer?

For most drivers, Upside returns the highest per-tank savings because it stacks cash back on top of the pump price. GasBuddy is a close second and tends to win on long-route trips where price visibility matters more than the cash-back amount.

Do I need to log in to use gas apps?

GasBuddy, Upside, and Waze all require a free account to unlock the best features. Gas Guru is the only app on this list that works without any sign-up, which is handy if you just want quick price data without setting up another login.

Are gas apps accurate for diesel prices?

Yes, all four apps display diesel prices. GasBuddy and Waze tend to be the most accurate for diesel because their crowd-sourced data is updated constantly by drivers at the pump. Gas Guru relies on OPIS data, which is accurate but can lag a day behind the posted price.

Will a gas app help with a gooseneck or larger trailer?

Yes. GasBuddy and Gas Guru both let you filter for stations that accommodate longer rigs. Waze is useful here too because it flags low-clearance and narrow-entry warnings that matter for larger trailers. For more on the trade-offs between trailer types, see our guide to choosing the right car trailer rental.

Can I use these apps in Canada or Mexico?

GasBuddy works in the US and Canada. Waze works globally. Upside is US-only at present. Gas Guru coverage is US-focused. Cross-border car trailer trips should default to GasBuddy and Waze.

Final Thoughts

Towing a car trailer rental does not have to drain your wallet at the pump. A good gas app, used alongside smart driving habits, can save you $15 to $40 on a typical long-haul trip. GasBuddy is the best all-around pick. Upside is the best cash-back layer. Waze is the best navigation-plus-price combo. Gas Guru is the best simple option for drivers who want price data with no account to create. Try the stack that fits your trip length, and the savings add up fast.

Content updated April 2026