How Much a Gas Price Change Costs You

If you drive 12,000 miles a year in a 25 MPG vehicle, every $1 increase in gas price costs you about $480 per year. At today's $3.50/gal that is roughly $1,680 a year in fuel; at $4.50 it rises to about $2,160, a $480 annual hit that totals $2,400 over five years. A $2 drop to $1.50/gal would save you about $960 a year. The effect scales directly with your mileage and your vehicle's efficiency, so a heavy commuter in a truck feels price swings far more than a light city driver in a compact.