AAA's Free App Helps Motorists Compare Gas Prices Close to Home and on the Road

With gas prices 73 cents higher per gallon than last year, the AAA TripTik Mobile app for iPhone helps motorists compare prices at nearby stations

ORLANDO, Fla., March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Many Americans are feeling anxiety at the pump as the price of a tank of gas has increased more than 25 percent since the same time last year. As a result of this increase, finding the lowest prices is becoming a top priority for motorists as fuel costs consume a larger chunk of their household budget. Those with an Apple iPhone can save time comparing costs by using the AAA TripTik® Mobile application, the first free app to offer access to frequently updated gas prices.

AAA TripTik Mobile is a GPS-based app with maps showing gas station locations and other points of interest, such as hotels, restaurants and attractions, near a user's location or any user-specified location. Gas station details include updated prices for all available grades of gasoline. New preference settings allow users to show prices for just their preferred grade and sort stations alphabetically or by distance.  

Hotel and restaurant information includes AAA's Diamond Ratings based on professional in-person inspections. There's also an option to call for lodging reservations with the touch of a button.  The AAA TripTik Mobile app also provides maps and turn-by-turn directions to other points of interest including local events, AAA offices and Approved Auto Repair facilities, as well as user-entered addresses. The app can recalculate routes and provide voice guidance for the next maneuver.

AAA also offers the added convenience of integration between its online and mobile products. Travelers that want to plan a trip in advance or share directions with friends or family can use TripTik Travel Planner at AAA.com to create and save routes. Saved routes that may include stops along the way will generate a unique AAA TripTik ID. This ID can then be used with the app to download the maps and directions. The ID can be shared with multiple TripTik Mobile app users and the entire downloaded route can be modified on the iPhone as needed. (Saving routes requires registration on AAA.com and may require AAA membership.)

AAA TripTik Mobile uses the latest mapping data from the navigation market leader NAVTEQ. Full functionality on iPod Touch and non-3G iPad devices requires uninterrupted Wi-Fi access.

AAA TripTik Mobile is the third free iPhone app offered by AAA. The AAA Discounts app, with more than a million total downloads, also uses GPS technology to display nearby AAA Show Your Card & Save locations. AAA Roadside enables AAA members who require emergency road service to send their vehicle description and breakdown details directly to AAA. Additional information is provided on AAA.com/mobile.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 52 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

AAA news releases, high-resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at AAA.com/news.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080226/DC15031LOGO)

SOURCE AAA