The national average price per gallon of gasoline was $1.19 in 1980. In July 2024, the price of gasoline for all fuels will be $3.60.

This may seem like a huge increase, but $1.19 in 1980 would be worth about $4.54 today. This means that fuel was actually more expensive then – comparatively speaking – than it is today.

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But that doesn’t mean that filling up is cheap. Prices vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of car you drive and the type of fuel you choose. Regular petrol, for example, tends to be much cheaper than premium petrol.

Factors beyond your control also affect gas prices.

“Gas prices are rising due to factors like supply chain issues and global conflicts, so the idea that gas stations are making big profits is a myth,” says David Poulnot, vice president of multi-vertical sales at Upside, the largest fuel app in the U.S. “Most are small businesses struggling with razor-thin margins, just trying to stay afloat in a volatile market.”

So how much does it cost to fill up your car now compared to before? And what can you do to counteract the high prices? Here’s everything you need to know.

What it costs to fill your tank today

The cost of refueling depends on two main factors: tank size and fuel type. Prices can also vary greatly depending on where you live in the country.

These are the national average prices for gasoline (per gallon) in August 2024, according to AAA.

• Regular: 3,387 USD

• Middle class: 3,853 USD

• Premium: 4,203 USD

• Diesel: 3,728 USD

• E85: 2,814 USD

According to JD Power, the average car holds between 12 and 15 gallons. Let’s say you have a larger tank (15 gallons), it’s empty and you get the average cost of fuel. Here’s what it costs to fill up your tank today.

• Regular: $50.81

• Middle class: 57,80 €

• Premium: $63.05

• Diesel: $55.92

• E85: $42.21

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Fuel costs in the 2000s and 2010s

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released data on fuel costs from the early 1990s to the present. The data includes the price of gasoline for all types of fuel. Here is an overall breakdown of the cost of a gallon of fuel in the 2000s.

• 2000 — $1,523

• 2001 — $1,460

• 2002 — $1,386

• 2003 — $1,603

• 2004 — $1,895

• 2005 — $2,314

• 2006 — $2,618

• 2007 — $2,843

• 2008 — $3,299

• 2009 — $2,406

And here you can see the fuel costs in the 2010s (all classes).

• 2010 – $2,835

• 2011 — $3,576

• 2012 — $3,680

• 2013 – $3,575

• 2014 – $3,437

• 2015 – $2,520

• 2016 – $2,250

• 2017 — $2,528

• 2018 — $2,813

• 2019 — $2,691

• 2020 — $2,258

Again, these are per gallon prices in dollars for that year. Due to inflation, the cost will be a little higher each year – and even higher the further back you go.

The cost of filling a tank depends on the tank size. Using averages, here’s a look at what a 15-gallon tank would cost in dollars of that era (based on all five years from 2000 to 2020).

• 2000 — $22.85

• 2005 — $34.71

• 2010 — $42.53

• 2015 – $37.80

• 2020 — $33.87

Cost of a tank of fuel in the 1990s

The EIA also provides data on average fuel costs in the United States (for all fuel classes) in the 1990s.

• 1990 – n/a

• 1991 — N/A

• 1992 — N/A

• 1993 — N/A

• 1994 — $1,078 (today’s equivalent: $2.29) or $16.17 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1995 — $1,158 (today’s equivalent: $2.39) or $17.37 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1996 — $1,245 (today’s equivalent: $2.50) or $18.68 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1997 — $1,244 (today’s equivalent: $2.44) or $18.66 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1998 — $1,072 (today’s equivalent: $2.07) or $16.08 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1999 — $1,176 (today’s equivalent: $2.22) or $17.64 for a 15-gallon tank

Cost of a tank of fuel in the 1980s

While the EIA didn’t have data going back to the 1980s, another source did. These are the national average prices for gasoline in the 1980s (per gallon) and how much it would have cost to fill up a tank back then.

• 1980 — $1.19 (today’s equivalent: $4.54) or $17.85 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1981 — $1.31 (today’s equivalent: $4.53) or $19.65 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1982 — $1.22 (today’s equivalent: $3.98) or $18.30 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1983 — $1.16 (today’s equivalent: $3.66) or $17.40 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1984 — $1.13 (today’s equivalent: $3.42) or $16.95 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1985 — $1.12 (today’s equivalent: $3.27) or $16.80 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1986 — $0.86 (today’s equivalent: $2.47) or $12.90 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1987 — $0.90 (today’s equivalent: $2.49) or $13.50 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1988 — $0.90 (today’s equivalent: $2.39) or $13.50 for a 15-gallon tank

• 1989 — $1.00 (today’s equivalent: $2.54) or $15.00 for a 15-gallon tank

How to save money at the gas pump

Regardless of the size of your tank, it never hurts to save money on gas. Here are just a few strategies from the experts.

• Take advantage of loyalty programs. “Consider joining gas station loyalty programs and using cashback apps to get more bang for your buck,” Poulnot said. “Upside, for example, offers up to 25 cents per gallon and 22% cashback at over 30,000 gas stations.”

• Plan your trip in advance. “While it may be most convenient to drive to events, the grocery store or even work, you can save on gas costs by walking, biking or taking public transportation to certain destinations when the weather is nice,” says Mary Hines Droesch, product leader for personal, business and wealth management and lending at Bank of America.

• Adjust your budget. “When gas prices go up, it’s important to adjust your budget accordingly,” Droesch said. “Review past receipts or track your spending during the week to see how much money you spend on gas. From there, you can use your weekly spending to calculate approximate monthly expenses.”

• Go to different gas stations. “With a little planning and foresight, you may be able to head to gas stations where gas prices tend to be lower – for example, farther away from major highways,” says Renee Horne, chief marketing and customer experience officer at Chase Auto.

• Don’t fill up completely. “Instead of filling up your tank completely, consider filling up with just enough gas to get you safely to the next gas station, where prices will hopefully be cheaper,” Horne suggested.

• Lighten your load. “The more weight your car carries, the harder it has to work. That, in turn, burns more gas,” Horne said. “Some things are necessary, but if you have extra weight in the car that you don’t need, removing it can help you improve fuel economy.”

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Cost of Gas in the 1980s, 90s, 2000s and Today