What a gas: Off-brand gas stations charging less

Fill ‘er up!

With the national average of gas dropping to record lows over the past few months, taking into account what big name gasoline companies are charging when compared to local, off-brand stations might be interesting to note.

That’s why one Brooklyn pol set out on a mission to survey gas stations in several parts of the borough earlier in the month to test out how gas prices stack up.

“Everyone should be aware of the gas prices throughout their neighborhood,” said Assemblymember Dov Hikind, who, along with his staff, visited several gas stations across Borough Park and Flatbush as well as along Coney Island Avenue. “This survey informs our residents, while pointing out the opportunity to find cheaper gas should they elect to drive around and seek it.”

Hikind found that the prices for regular unleaded, self-serve gas throughout these neighborhoods were relatively lower at off-brand stations when compared to the prices of companies like Exxon, Shell and BP.

An Exxon Mobile station at 44th Street and New Utrecht Avenue was one of the steepest providers with prices at $2.14 per gallon and $2.26 for credit, with Shell and Citgo not far behind, coming in at $2.10 per gallon.

On the other hand, AP Oil Inc., located at 65th Street and 13th Avenue, only charges $2.01 per gallon.

On Coney Island Avenue, Shell, BP and Mobile stations were charging roughly five cents more per gallon than in Borough Park and Flatbush. One BP station, off Coney Island Avenue and Avenue T, saw prices as high as $2.39 per gallon with a $2.29 cash option, despite a sign reading $2.09 per gallon on display, according to Hikind.

Not too far away in Kensington, a Speedway at 18^th and Coney Island Avenues is charging $2.09 per gallon.

With the national average hitting a low of $1.97 per gallon according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report—the cheapest average price at the pump since March of 2009 — New York’s current average is slightly higher with a $2.091 per gallon average.

New York’s highest recorded average price for regular unleaded gas was in July of 2008, when the price was a whopping $4.309 per gallon.