Gas Price Websites Strive To Become More Accurate

DENVER (CBS4) - Drivers looking to save on their next tank-full often search the Internet for the cheapest prices. But CBS4 wanted to know if what's listed online is the real price.

CBS4's Jodi Brooks took the list online and hit the streets. The price online is not what she found at the gas stations. There is a reason, however.

According to ColoradoGasPrices.com regular unleaded gas was $3.15 at a Loaf 'N Jug on Colorado Boulevard early Monday. Seven hours later the price jumped to $3.23. As the market changes throughout the day, so do gas prices. But the Loaf 'N Jug prices still beat its competitors in price.

"This is one of the cheapest in the area. I was not aware of that. I'm glad I stopped," consumer Jennett Bezdek said.

According to ColoradoGasPrices.com, the lowest price for gas on Monday was $3.13 a gallon at the Bradley station on the corner of Havana and East 11th Avenue in Aurora. When Brooks arrived the price had jumped 3 cents.

The reason the price jumped is because ColoradoGasPrices.com gets its information from local spotters in each city. Prices are updated instantly as somebody sends in the information. Each spotter has a reliability rating to determine and confirm accuracy.

"I said, 'Hey, I'll go a mile or two out of my way to save 10 plus cents. Here I am," consumer Jonathan Ciolkevich said.

A few extra miles for a few extra cents -- it all adds up when cheap gas is the mission.

At King Soopers stations, using a King Soopers card gets another 3 cents off a gallon.

GasBuddy.com operates ColoradoGasPrices.com and GasBuddy is always looking for more spotters. Download the GasBuddy app free on an iPhone. It's the fourth-most popular free app, according to GasBuddy. That beats Facebook and Twitter and the Top 3 free apps are all games.

The gas websites will only get better as more people get involved.

CBS4 is trying to help save at the pump. Every day on the CBS4 Morning News at 5:20 and 6:20 the cheapest prices around are aired.

Links:  ColoradoGasPrices.com |  GasBuddy.com