COLUMBIA --- Lately Brenda Feagin said she has seen at least 20 percent more drivers who come across the border from Georgia to buy cheaper South Carolina gas.

"As a matter of fact, I live in Georgia, myself, and I always get it over here," said the cashier at Kent's Corner 24 in Graniteville, S.C.

The average price of unleaded gasoline this week was $4 in Georgia and $3.85 in South Carolina, according to AAA data. The difference is because of the higher taxes imposed on each gallon in Georgia. But despite recent efforts by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue to slow the increase in gas taxes, motorists hungry for any savings they can find continue to shop for gas across the border.

Ms. Feagin's co-worker, Judy Gilmer, who works on the truck-filling side, said she's also seeing greater demand coming from the west.

"We are having a lot of truck drivers who come here to get it because it's cheaper," said Ms. Gilmer. "We had one today who said he got enough over there (in Georgia) just so he could get it over here."

"I go to Carolina myself," said an employee at D&S Tire and Auto Service in Augusta, who declined to give her name.

"You're darn right, I do," she added.

At some point, however, it will not be worth the trip for motorists, acknowledged Michael Fields, executive director of the South Carolina Petroleum Marketers Association.

Motorists who buy gas that's 15 cents cheaper would save $3 by purchasing 20 gallons. But if a car gets 25 miles per gallon, any savings would evaporate if the trip were more than 19 miles.

"But I bet you it makes them feel better," he said. "Everybody wants to get a bargain. Even if it's a perceived bargain in your mind, that is your bargain."

Mr. Fields said Georgia stations might offer perks like a free soft drink or car wash, but their best chance at competing with South Carolina stations is to match them in price.

"Do you want to make less profit or do you want to lose the whole sale?" said Mr. Fields.

He and other experts agree that the decision to drive to another state to save 15 cents a gallon is an emotional one.

High gas prices push consumers to unlikely lengths, said Paulo GuimarÃes, an associate professor in the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

"It doesn't happen with any other good," he said, noting that insurance prices can vary widely and change frequently, but consumers don't pursue new policies each time. "But with gas, it definitely happens ... . It affects the mood of the consumer."

For one thing, signs advertising gas prices are everywhere, said Mr. GuimarÃes. But media hype, also, may affect people's decisions.

Would he drive the extra miles?

"If I knew for sure what it was? Yeah, why not? You feel like you're doing something."