The ultimate guide to getting free gas with zero catch

Brooke Bell

July 20th

Free Gas

Charities—including the Salvation Army—can often supply free gas vouchers to qualifying people in emergency circumstances. Learning how to get gas when you’re in need starts here. Free gas cards for low income families are available! Similarly many programs also offer free hotel and motel vouchers for emergency situations as well. Either way its great that these type of programs exist.

While there’s limited funding and these vouchers are usually distributed in limited situations, you could qualify!

The fact is, many Americans wake up every morning with an empty tank thinking “I need gas…and I need gas money!” Just as many people are looking for a free gas card for low income. If you’ve ever had a situation where you just thought “I need gas money now,” this article is for you.

Keep reading for more information on how to get free gas from the Salvation Army, plus who you can contact to get started. Of course, there are other forms of transportation assistance like bus passes, car repair assistance and tokens for public transportation.

Salvation Army Gas Vouchers

The Salvation Army is a country-wide charity that provides help for people and families, regardless of their religion or background. With that said, some people are given a priority—such as those with low income, seniors, and families with children.

Most of those services are only for use in emergency situations, and the Salvation Army can also provide longer term care and counseling services.

Free gas vouchers, free gas cards for low income individuals and more general transportation help are offered at most Salvation Army locations. However, only a small number of individuals who apply for these resources will be accepted. Funding is extremely limited, and varies based on the cost of gasoline.

The most common reasons for releasing funds are for help reaching school, doctor’s appointment, job training, or an interview.

Gas vouchers usually require a formal application, which could include a face-to-face meeting with the branch’s case manager. Applicants will provide proof of their emergency situation, along with supporting documents like pay stubs and household expenses.

How to Apply for Gasoline Vouchers

Looking for free gas coupons or free gas cards online? Need gas money? Bus tickets and gas vouchers distributed through the Salvation Army are usually only offered on a one-off basis, meaning you won’t be able to ask the Salvation Army for gasoline vouchers every week or every month.

In addition, some branches can provide help for long-distance travel on a case-by-case basis. That assistance may come in the form of bus passes, money for gas, or gas vouchers. Oftentimes this long-distance assistance is offered only in extreme circumstances, such as the death of an immediate family member or reuniting parents with their child. Car repair assistance is also provided, but this is much rarer.

In order to find financial assistance programs like free gas vouchers, search for “your county” and “assistance programs” using such phrases as gas and bus passes.

Be sure to look at all of your options, as the Salvation Army isn’t the only organization able to provide help with free gasoline vouchers and transportation assistance. Check with churches that help with gas vouchers, government programs and other charities, too.

The Salvation Army can be found in every state, as well as most major counties and towns within each state.

Non-profit community action agencies can also provide free gasoline vouchers. Such agencies will only provide assistance in the case of employment needs and job training, paying for gas for your car or truck in order to get you to your job site.

One such program is known as Emergency Family Services, which may also be part of their Case Management processes. Emergency Family Services is one program that provides free bus tokens or passes, as well as gas money for people in need of assistance for transportation.

Charities offer these free gas voucher programs by different names, but there IS help out there in times of need. Head to a local social services office to make an appointment ASAP, and get the help you need to pay for gas.

Aside from gas vouchers,  there are also local and national programs to apply for government assistance across many types of emergency financial assistance such as things like finding help with funeral expenses or simply getting help to pay your rent.