Have you ever wondered if you ought to drive around comparing gas prices and then realized that you'd burn more money than you'd save by doing it?

Well, a new Web site offers you the chance to compare local gas prices with the click of a mouse.

MilwaukeeGasPrices.com displays the 15 metropolitan area stations with the lowest prices (based on regular unleaded fuel) and the 15 with the highest, based on user updates over the past 72 hours. A similar site, WisconsinGasPrices.com does the same for prices outside the metro Milwaukee area.

There are also discussion boards for users to share their gas stories, tips, advice and more.

The sites are part of a group of Web sites run by Gas Buddy Inc., founded in 2000 by Canadian Dustin Coupal and Minnesotan Jason Toews. According to the non-profit company's site, Gas Buddy's mission is, "to serve the public by providing a real time gas prices forum so that consumers can have access to the information necessary to locate the lowest gas prices available. By working together as a community everyone will save money at the pumps."

The user-submitted prices do a good job of covering the area, from Oak Creek to Hales Corners, Pewaukee to Wauwatosa. From Atkinson and Teutonia to Cudahy. Prices are automatically removed after 72 hours to ensure that the information remains current.

The site also allows visitors to compare prices over time with a series of charts showing price trends over periods ranging from a month to two years. There are also links to articles about gas prices in the news media.

One user told a Toronto news reporter that he's a regular visitor to a Gas Buddy site and that it has saved him cold, hard cash.

"I've been a member since February," Dave Thompson told CHUM television earlier this month. "And since February, I would guess that I've saved $300-$400."

One must be a registered member to submit prices and to use features such as the gas usage logbook. Membership is free.

With prices at the pump rising ever higher these days, MilwaukeeGasPrices.com may become the first step to filling up.