Refueling your own car is not just a necessity for Gen Z. However, they feel particularly anxious about it, as a survey has found.
Anyone driving a car cannot avoid having to refuel it regularly. For most drivers, this process is likely routine and does not pose major issues.
A survey by the British company Cazoo, which deals in used cars online, found that this process is particularly associated with many fears for Gen Z.
Better to stay put than to refuel
What did the survey find? According to thetimes.com, the survey, which questioned 2,000 drivers, highlighted many fears of Gen Z when refueling. The term “refuel anxiety” is used to describe this issue. Among respondents aged 18 to 24, 62% reportedly experience this refueling anxiety.
Some of the reasons for this, in addition to the ever-increasing fuel prices, include driving close enough to the pump to be able to refuel or correctly identifying the fuel needed for their car. Proper usage of the pump is also among the fears.
Additionally, hygiene concerns and fear of queues are mentioned as reasons in the survey. According to researchers, young people are afraid of making mistakes in public, which ties in with some of the mentioned reasons.
Refueling anxiety may also be linked to the significant decline in the number of young people obtaining driving licenses. The number of young people with a driver’s license is reportedly halved from the late 1980s to today.
Harry Waring from Cazoo comments on the issue: “Refueling may seem like a simple, everyday task to many. However, our research shows that for millions of drivers, particularly younger or less experienced ones, it is a real source of anxiety. It’s not just about rising fuel costs, but also about self-confidence, social pressure, and the fear of making a mistake in public.”
What alternatives are being used? According to the survey, nearly two-thirds of young respondents reported having asked others in their circle to refuel for them in the past. This can be a partner, family members, or friends.
Additionally, half of the respondents with refueling anxiety indicated that they let their tank get “dangerously empty” before going to refuel. A quarter have reportedly broken down on the road due to an empty tank.
Not only refueling poses a problem for Gen Z. Professional and related financial issues are also among the current challenges for many young people, forcing them to sometimes practice abstinence: Generation Z is exhausting their savings, skipping meals, and selling their belongings just to get by..
