There’s going to come a time when your tires need air, there’s no way around it.  And, if you don’t have a tire pump at home, you may find yourself searching for a place that offers free air for your tires.  Heck, you may be in the car right now with that annoying tire pressure light on, I get it.

In today’s guide, I wanted to showcase the many locations that offer free air for your tires.  I’m going to mention who offers free air for your tires as well as some tips you can use so that you never have to pay for air again.  I promise that no matter where you live, there’s a place nearby with free air.

Let’s begin!

Free Air For Tires Near Me

FreeAirPump.com

Let’s start with one of the coolest sites on the internet, FreeAirPump.com.

As the name proclaims, they list thousands of locations nearby that offer free air for your tires.  Just pop in your zip code and then browse the results.  Almost all the results are user generated so you may find some outdated options, but it’s pretty accurate, so you may want to at least check i tout.

This is a great choice as Google doesn’t always find the best options nor will I as every geographical area is different.  Definitely start here to see where you can go right now to get free air for your tires.  It’s 100% free to use.

Discount Tire

All Discount Tire locations offer a free air check, either in store, or in most cases, they will have an employee outside, where you can get in line and get your tires checked and pumped with air if need be.  In this case, look for the “free air check” signs to be pointed in the right direction.  Even if there’s not an employee outside, you can pull up near the “air check” sign and someone will come out to you.

This is one of my favorite options as you don’t even need to get out of your car.  There’s a good chance you have a Discount Tire nearby as they have more than 1,000+ locations in close to 40 states as I write this.  This service is available to you regardless if you’re a customer or not.  If you don’t want to waste your time with research or an app, find a Discount Tire nearby.

Jiffy Lube

Jiffy Lube, the very popular oil change chain, is known to offer free air to its customers.  As long as the line isn’t long, stop in and see if they can help.  I have read many saying it can be done online.

Pep Boys

Pep Boys, the popular auto parts chain, has an auto shop division, wherein you can ask for free air, similar to that of Discount Tire.  Keep in mind that you may have to wait longer than if you used a gas station as there’s often a wait here.

QuikTrip (QT)

All QT gas stations offer free air via the pumps usually located near the side of the store.  Unlike most gas stations that require a quarter or two, you can pull up and use the air as needed.

Safeway Gas Stations

I have done this before in a pinch and found that if you ask the clerk, they will give you free air.  It seems as if you have to ask for it, though!

7-Eleven

Most 7-Eleven gas stations, at least from what my research tells me, offer free air.   Your location may vary, however, as all are independently owned.

Sheetz

Sheetz gas stations are prominently known throughout the Midwest, with close to 600 locations.  Every location, just like QT, offers a free air pump right in their parking lot.

Valvoline

Valvoline Oil Change locations are known to offer free air for your tires as well.  As a fair warning, these locations can be busy, so don’t be surprised if you see a line and have to wait.

Walmart Automotive

Yes, almost all Walmart locations have an automotive department, which mainly focuses on installing new tires.  Swing around to the department and ask them if they can pump your tires and even check them out.  This is a free service offered to anybody.

WaWa

Prominently found in the South, the WaWa gas station chain offers free air at all of its 800+ locations.

Belle Tire

Belle Tire is a larger tire chain prominently found in the Michigan, Indiana and Ohio area.  Like Discount Tire, they will fill up your tires with air, regardless if you’re a customer or not.

Gate Gas

This gas station chain isn’t as well known as it has fewer than 200 locations, but if you live in the South, you may know of one.  Every location offers a free air pump.

Giant Eagle

Giant Eagle, an American grocery store chain, mainly found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Maryland, offers free air at its gas stations.

Royal Farms

Royal Farms has a pinch more than 200+ convenience stores that can be found mainly along the east coasts in states like Virginia and New Jersey.  Every Royal Farms location has free air for its customers.

Rutters

This is a very small gas chain, mainly found in Pennsylvania, that offers free air.

Florida Turnpikes

If you find yourself in Florida for any reason, the Turnpike Rest Areas have free air pumps to use.

Car Dealership

If you live near the car dealership you purchased your car from, most will be more than happy to fill your tires up as a good gesture.  I would only consider this route if your dealership isn’t that busy.

Search

And, as my last location tip, although obvious, you may want to search Google more in depth to see if there are any smaller locations nearby that offer free gas.  To do so, search for “free air for tires near me” and see what pops up on the map.

NOTE:  California and Connecticut Law

As a note, I wanted to mention the California and Connecticut law.  If you live in or you’re visiting any one of these two states, then gas stations cannot charge for gas.  Simply put, if you show up at a gas station with a pump, they cannot charge you, so feel free to go to any gas station in one of these two states to fill up your tires at no cost.

PRO TIP: Ask Nicely

I have heard this countless times, but if you go inside the gas station and ask nicely, almost all clerks will turn the air pump on for you, even if it requires cash.  Your chances greatly increase if you make a purchase, but it isn’t always necessary.  So, if you’re in a bind, ask the clerk and see what they can do for you.  You may find a nice one who will turn it on for you, no problem.

Buy an Air Compressor

I know this isn’t a free air tip, but an air compressor isn’t as expensive as you think.  The highest-rated compressors on Amazon can retail for as little as $25 and can last you years.  That way, if you ever find yourself leaving and the low tire pressure light is on, you can pump your tires up and not have to worry about finding a gas station.  In some cases, you can purchase a portable unit that works off your car’s A/C adapter.  A tire gauge is highly recommended as well so that you know how much air is needed.

How Much Does it Cost to Inflate Tires?

So, what happens if you can’t find a free air pump near you?  How much is it going to cost to inflate tires?

In many cases, it’s going to cost anywhere from $0.50 to $2, usually which needs to be paid out in quarters.  Some of your higher-tech machines will accept credit cards, but it depends on where you go.  It’s always a good idea to keep some quarters in your car in the case you need air in and can’t find a free option.

Final Thoughts

If you need free air for your tires, there are options, but as you can see, you will need to be near one of these locations to take advantage.

Having a tire with low pressure can be a burden, and it’s the main reason I recommend that you at least buy a portable tire compressor.  That way, you can always be certain your tires are properly inflated.  In the case, the tire keeps deflating, then it will more than likely be time for new tires or a patch of sorts.  If this were the case, I would recommend heading to a Discount Tire as they can often patch your tires for free or recommend a set of tires at an aggressive cost.

This sums up my cost to inflate tires for free post.  As always, if I’m missing any options and/or you want to comment on what I have already written, you’re more than welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.