Generation Z is increasingly avoiding phone calls and now a new source of stress has emerged: the petrol station. Research shows that six in ten young drivers feel so anxious they are afraid to fill up their own cars.
A recent study of 2,000 UK motorists found that 39 per cent of all drivers experience what researchers are calling refuel anxiety. Among 18 to 24-year-olds, the figure jumps to 62 per cent, highlighting a clear generational difference in attitudes toward a task once considered routine.
Young drivers are not just concerned about high fuel prices. They worry about everyday aspects of filling up, such as parking close enough to the pump, selecting the correct type of fuel, and confidently using the nozzle. Hygiene concerns and the fear of waiting in queues were also common, with researchers noting that young people fear making mistakes in public.
The number of young people learning to drive is declining. The proportion of 17 to 20-year-olds holding a full driving licence has halved compared with the late 1980s. However, avoiding the petrol station carries risks. Half of those experiencing refuel anxiety admit to letting their tank run dangerously low to postpone visits, and one in four have run out of fuel while on the road.
The study, conducted by online car retailer Cazoo, also found a reliance on others. Over half of all drivers have asked a partner, family member, or friend to fill their tank. For Generation Z, this rises to nearly two thirds.
Harry Waring, motoring expert at Cazoo, explained:
“Filling up may seem like a simple task for many, but our research shows it is a genuine source of anxiety for millions of drivers, especially younger or less experienced ones. It is not just the rising cost of fuel but also confidence, social pressure, and fear of making a mistake in public.”
Cazoo’s research also revealed that younger drivers struggle with parking. A separate survey found that two thirds of drivers aged 18 to 28 have asked someone else to park for them, and 96 per cent reported anxiety about parallel or reverse parking.
Generation Z drivers, refuel anxiety, young drivers UK, petrol station fear, Cazoo study, driving confidence, fuel prices UK, parking anxiety, reverse parking stress, parallel parking anxiety, car refuelling worries, UK motorists survey, anxiety about filling fuel, young driver safety, motoring tips UK
