As another everyday expense hits the household budget, many drivers are questioning whether they’re getting a fair deal when they fill up.

There was a time when filling the car was just another stop on the weekly to-do list but these days many Australians are watching the numbers tick over at the bowser and wondering how something so routine became another household expense to worry about.

For older Australians in particular, the rising cost of fuel is not just about dollars and cents. The car remains a crucial part of staying connected – whether it’s getting to appointments, helping family, doing the weekly shop or maintaining everyday independence, and new research from Finder has revealed almost eight in 10 Australians (79%) believe they are being price gouged when filling up their cars, while petrol is increasingly ranking among the household expenses causing the most concern.

According to Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker, almost one in five Australians (18 per cent) listed petrol as one of their most stressful expenses in June, up from 11 per cent in January.

Finder money expert Sarah Megginson said the level of frustration among motorists highlights just how much pressure households are feeling.

“A trip to the servo can feel like a financial ambush for Aussie drivers,” Megginson said.

“Even though prices have dropped back in the last month or so, petrol is no longer a routine expense, it’s becoming a weekly financial shock.”

Why motorists feel they’re being squeezed

Megginson said Finder expected some frustration around fuel costs, but the strength of feeling from Australian drivers stood out.

“To see almost 80 per cent of people say petrol stations are price gouging is pretty remarkable,” she told Starts at 60.

“A lot of that is less about hard facts and more about how people feel. Across our budgets we’ve been squeezed – supermarkets, insurance, energy – and in many of those areas we’re seeing businesses make record profits while we’re left picking up the bill.

“It’s only natural that people look at petrol through the same lens and feel like they’re being taken for a ride.”

But Megginson said the price motorists see on the sign out front of a service station is influenced by more than just the business selling the fuel.

Global oil markets, supply issues, competition between retailers and government taxes all play a role in what drivers eventually pay. Fuel excise is one major factor, making up a significant portion of the price Australians pay each time they fill the tank.

“So yes, the frustration is understandable, but whether petrol stations themselves are ‘price gouging’ is a more complex question,” she said.

The pressure on older Australians

For retirees and people living on fixed incomes, unpredictable fuel prices can make budgeting even harder.

Cutting back is not always simple either. Many older Australians cannot just stop driving, particularly in areas where public transport is limited or family and essential services are not close by.

Megginson said transport costs are now adding another layer to already stretched household budgets.

“When petrol goes up 20 or 30 cents a litre, that can add $15–$20 to a tank, and when you combine that with higher grocery prices, health insurance and every other cost inching up, it’s relentless,” she said.

“So yes, transport costs have definitely become a much bigger pressure point, especially for older Australians on fixed incomes.”

Finder’s research also suggests the pressure is changing behaviour at the bowser.

The survey found 29 per cent of Australians had witnessed fuel hoarding, with drivers filling jerry cans or other containers, while 18 per cent had seen petrol stations limit how much fuel customers could buy. A further 17 per cent said they had witnessed fuel theft.

Megginson said the findings show petrol is no longer a background expense for many households.

“Petrol is starting to feel like a luxury, and that’s a pretty shocking thing to say,” she said.

“When I got my first car 25 or 30 years ago, petrol was about 55 cents a litre. It was taken for granted that teenagers who saved up for a car could also afford to run it.

“For people on fixed incomes, it’s very hard to budget when you’ve got that much volatility at the pump.”

How drivers can claw back savings

While there is no magic fix for high fuel prices, Megginson said small changes can still add up, such as combining errands, planning trips and sharing lifts where possible which can help reduce unnecessary kilometres.

“On its own, saving five or 10 kilometres here or there doesn’t sound like much, but over a month it can easily add up,” she said.

Fuel comparison apps can also help motorists check prices before they leave home, rather than simply pulling into the nearest service station.

Some apps allow drivers to lock in cheaper prices for a limited time, which can create meaningful savings across multiple fills.

Megginson said the most important thing is making those small savings a habit.

“The bottom line is: we can spend a lot of energy feeling angry about prices, but it doesn’t change much,” she said.

“Focusing on what’s in your control – carpooling, smart use of public transport, and fuel apps that lock in lower prices – is where you can claw back meaningful savings without giving up the independence your car gives you.”