Drivers are starting to come around
How much does gas have to rise before people realize how huge an expenditure it is?
According to the report, gas prices are not the only driving-related cost on the upswing. The costs of tires, financing, license, registration and taxes also showed increases over last year. The average cost to own and operate a vehicle is 54.1 cents per mile, or $8,121 per year, an increase of nearly 2 cents per mile and $300 from last year, according to AAA and based on an average gas price per gallon of $2.941, which is even higher now.
Motorists can save as much as $3,000 per year by switching from a large model to a smaller vehicle, the auto club said. For example, driving a sport utility 15,000 miles a year averages $10,448, compared with $8,644 for a minivan.
