Oct 12, 2026 · 27 min
Clark Howard weighs fuel costs against vehicle ownership
10.12.26 Gas Prices & Vehicle Choice / Is Price Tech Stalking You?
A temporary gas-price spike can make a new vehicle look attractive, but the decision depends on fuel savings, service support, and total ownership costs.
- 1Fuel prices alone do not justify replacing a working vehicle without calculating total ownership costs.
- 2Used-car retailers offer convenience and return periods, but independent inspections remain essential before the window closes.
- 3Electronic shelf labels update prices more accurately than paper tags without proving that Walmart is secretly tracking shoppers.
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Clark’s clearest warning is that a used Polestar may be difficult to recommend when future software and service support are uncertain.
The brief
Rising gas prices revive the question of hybrids and EVs, but Clark Howard argues that a temporary fuel-price spike is not enough to justify replacing a current vehicle.
Carvana and CarMax attract buyers with transparent pricing and return periods, yet Clark says every used vehicle should receive an independent inspection before that window closes.
A used Polestar raises a different concern: electric vehicles depend on software and manufacturer support, making uncertainty about the brand’s U.S. future a serious ownership risk.
The Walmart discussion separates electronic shelf labels from a viral fear that the technology tracks shoppers’ phones and changes prices for them.
Clark also covers emergency car gear, delivery tipping, credit-card pay-over-time plans, and the relative risks of mailing card information with a bill.