Think gas prices are too low? Don’t fret, Trump finalizes rule to raise them more

The Department of Transportation has finalized new fuel economy rules that roll back mileage targets for new vehicles, cutting the 2031 goal from 50.4 mpg down to 34.9 mpg. Fuel economy standards are the rules that push automakers to build more efficient cars, in place since the 1970s oil crisis. Lowering the target means new cars will burn more gas to go the same distance, which raises what drivers pay at the pump over time.

The government's own analysis puts the fuel economy drop at raising average fuel use by about 44%, and a separate Department of Energy estimate says gas prices could rise by 76 cents a gallon under this kind of policy shift. Combined, that means both higher prices per gallon and more gallons bought, at a time when oil prices are already at record highs due to global conflicts. The change comes after Congress already reduced penalties for automakers that miss fuel economy targets to zero, so this new rule adds another layer to that rollback.

For homeowners, the practical takeaway is about future car costs rather than anything tied to the house itself. If you drive a gas vehicle, expect fuel costs to trend upward rather than down in the years ahead. If you're weighing an electric vehicle, particularly one you could charge at home with rooftop solar, this news underscores that gas prices aren't likely to get cheaper anytime soon, making the cost comparison between gas and electric driving worth revisiting.