Americans carpooling to save money on gas
Apr 18, 2026, 8:24 AM
With gas averaging $4.08 a gallon nationally, Americans are dusting off an old-school money saver: carpooling.
NBC’s TODAY show reported this week that carpools are surging across the country, with cities and states now rewarding riders with perks like free transit credits.
It makes sense. Nearly 7 in 10 of us commute by car, and a LendingTree study found 31% of Americans have already changed spending habits because of rising fuel costs.
The International Energy Agency is even recommending carpooling to curb demand.
The silver lining? Today’s cars average about 30 mpg — double what they got a generation ago — so every shared ride stretches even further.
Grab a coworker, split the gas, and enjoy the HOV lane.
Who knows…you might even make a new friend.
Watch the story on USA TODAY here
