Gen Z Driving Anxiety: Pumping Gas and Other Basic Car Tasks (2025 Survey)

• A survey by The Zebra found that ~25% of non-driving U.S. teens said fear of driving was one reason they delayed getting a license.
• A recent article cites that ~62% of Gen Z drivers (aged 18-24) in the UK surveyed reported “refuel anxiety” (fear of the social pressure and act of filling up their cars).
• Ride with Via found that nearly 93% of Gen Z drivers say driving is stressful, a clear indicator that driving anxiety is rising among young drivers.

The Hidden Issue Behind the Pump

Teen drivers today are the most tech-savvy generation of all time, meaning many of their everyday tasks are automated or on the internet. In fact, even the majority of retail shopping is done online for teens! A survey by GWI found that 56% of U.S. Gen Z said they prefer to shop online (versus in‐store).

Being expected to walk up to a physical gas pump with buttons, a screen, instructions, warnings, credit cards, and hoses can feel like a massively high-pressure situation. And unlike shopping online or watching a tutorial, pumping gas happens out in the open! Teens must perform the task correctly, publicly, and often quickly, with other drivers around them waiting for the same pump.

What Goes Through Gen Z’s Mind While Filling up Their Cars?

1. Fear of Doing Something Wrong

Gas pumps beep, flash warnings, decline cards, and sometimes shut off randomly. These variables can throw off a student driver while they're learning a new skill!

2. Feeling Rushed or Watched

There’s nothing worse than eyes being on you while you’re doing something alone for the first time, I think we can all relate! Add in the fact that all of the people watching are strangers, and you can see why there might be some added pressure.

3. Not Knowing the “Unwritten Rules”

Figuring out how close to pull up, how to remove the nozzle, and how to pay inside or at the pump can seem like a foreign language to a brand new driver.

4. Money Stress

For teens paying themselves, gas is often their first “adult” purchase. Using a debit card, checking bank balance, or guessing how much gas they need can feel overwhelming.

Why “On The Spot” Learning Doesn’t Work

Teens prefer to learn in a safe, comfortable environment that feels familiar to them. At Coastline Academy, our goal is to empower the next generation to become confident drivers. What we’ve found is, the next generation of drivers are learning the most in familiar environments.

And what’s more familiar to Gen Z than social media?

Platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels are already where teens learn everyday skills, from cooking recipes to doing basic car maintenance. 

By creating approachable, step-by-step gas-pumping tutorials on these platforms, we meet teens exactly where they are. They can save, rewatch, and practice mentally before ever stepping foot at a pump!

This removes the pressure of learning in the moment, and helps teens build confidence long before they take on the task themselves.

Check out some of these videos:

• https://youtube.com/shorts/jhaHshWR8FE
• https://youtube.com/shorts/6PhpguTDLVA
• https://youtube.com/shorts/0PtWYEHnLa0

Why Confident Driving Matters

Driving is the first step to freedom for many teens, and we want to help them overcome as many setbacks as possible! 

The lessons and mindsets that students learn in driving school are what they carry throughout the rest of their lives. By teaching skills like pumping gas through approachable methods like social media, it helps anxious teens take the first step towards independence.

Sources:

1. Clapp, J. D., et al. “Factors Contributing to Anxious Driving Behavior.” Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2011. PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3075497/.
2. Forecourt Trader. “Young People Scared of Petrol Stations, Survey Says.” Aug./Sept. 2025. Forecourt Trader, https://forecourttrader.co.uk/news/young-people-scared-of-petrol-stations-survey-says/708693.article.
3. Gaw, C. E., et al. “Driver’s Licensure and Driving Outcomes Among Youths With Mood Disorders.” JAMA Network Open, 2024. PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11002704/.
4. Hidalgo-Muñoz, A. R., et al. “Driving Anxiety and Anxiolytics While Driving: Their Impacts on Driving Behaviour.” [Journal], 2023. ScienceDirect, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023032152.
5. Măirean, C. “Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Fear and Avoidance of Driving, and Aberrant Driving Behaviors.” Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 2020. ScienceDirect, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214140520300347.
6. Redfern, J. “Most Gen Z Drivers Feel Anxious about Using Petrol Stations.” Motoring Research, 1 Sept. 2025, https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/gen-z-petrol-station-anxiety/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
7. Watling, T. “Gen Z Running Out of Fuel in Their Cars Because They’re Scared to Fill ...” The Independent, 29 Aug. 2025, https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/petrol-refuel-anxiety-gen-z-cars-b2816321.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
8. Via. “Why Gen Z is Ditching Driving and What Cities Can Do.” Via, https://ridewithvia.com/resources/why-genz-is-ditching-driving-and-what-cities-can-do.