What’s the Best Way to Split Gas?

Everyone loves a good road trip. Seeing new places, making memories, and spending time with good friends, road trips have it all. But racking up all those miles isn’t cheap. Even if you’re in a fuel-efficient Subaru, buying tank after tank of gas will start to add up during the course of your trip.

If you're taking a trip with group of friends, you can share the cost of gas, but what is the best way to split gas on a road trip? 

What's money between friends right? A few dollars here or there shouldn't lead to severed ties or sending out cronies to collect a debt, but if you're splitting gas, you still want the division to be fair.

• Tank rotation – Establish an order. Each person pays for gas when it's his or her turn. This method is pretty convenient, but it doesn’t always ensure that everyone pays an equal amount. You could have one person who ends up spending more than everyone else, or one person who doesn't spend as much. If this happens, you can think of other ways to make it square like filling the tank at the end of the trip, buying meals, x amount of hugs, etc.
•  Dollar amount – After every fifty (or however many) dollars, it’s the next person's turn. This ensures that everyone is paying the same amount regardless of the change in gas prices from state to state, or how full your gas tank is each time you refuel. However this isn't always convenient, and can get tricky. You might end up having to do two separate transactions at a stop to keep everything square.
• There and back – Let's say the route to your destination is the same route you will be taking to get home. One person pays for gas one way, and the other person pays for gas the other way. This is most convenient for two people, and only really works if you have an even number of people.
•  Settle up – One person pays for all of the gas, maybe on a card that offers discounts on gas, or rewards when filling up at the pump. Once the trip is over look at the total cost of gas for the whole trip, and everyone can pay an equal part. If it's possible for you to use this method, this is the best way to ensure that everyone pays the same amount.