ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Loyalty programs and smartphone apps can give consumers savings at the pump, TCPalm reports. That’s good news for drivers, as gas prices start to creep up ahead of the summer driving season.

“There is no commodity that people are more price sensitive toward than gas prices,” said Jeff Lenard, NACS spokesman. “It goes beyond a couple cents a gallon. There’s a real emotional connection to gas prices.”

During the past three years, gas prices have hovered under $3 per gallon for much of the United States, but now are ticking up. AAA noted that the national gas price average of $2.66 is 11 cents higher than two weeks ago, and the highest average in close to three years. “If consumers can save a few cents a gallon, it feels like victory," Lenard said.

Apps like GasBuddy and GetUpside provide ways for consumers to save while filling up. “People turn to us constantly to help them find cheap gas and save money on gas,” said Allison Mac, director of marketing and communications for GasBuddy, which recently announced a partnership with Shop Your Way from Sears.

Plenti, BP Driver Rewards, Cumberland Farms’ SmartPay, Shell Fuel Rewards, Speedway Speedy Rewards, RaceTrac Rewards, Sheetz, Wawa and 7-Eleven all offer rewards to loyalty card customers, either at the pump or in-store or both.