A second car can feel inexpensive when it spends most of the week parked outside. Then the fuel bill climbs, insurance renews, registration arrives, and a repair suddenly turns that “backup” vehicle into a surprisingly expensive household subscription.
Gas has become a particularly sharp reminder of that math. AAA listed the national average for regular gasoline at about $4.48 per gallon on September 21, 2026, after prices climbed more than a dollar from a year earlier. If prices stayed elevated for months, some households might start asking a question that once seemed impractical: Does the convenience of owning two cars still justify the cost?
