People who drive to work day in and day out have likely grown weary of hearing about the growth (and then partial reversal) of working from home. The rising costs of their commute no doubt add insult to injury.<\/p>\n
The share of people working from home increased dramatically in 2020 and remains higher now than before the pandemic. But the overwhelming majority of U.S. employees \u2014 77% of them \u2014 still commute. That\u2019s 124 million workers on the road in 2022, according to recently released American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This is at a time when vehicle ownership costs are up considerably.<\/p>\n
In-person workers are less likely to be high earners. Jobs in lower-earning service and manufacturing industries can\u2019t be done remotely like those in many tech and professional fields. Lower relative wages make increased commuting costs tough to handle (along with sharing the road again with higher-earning workers getting called back to their perk-rich offices).<\/p>\n
Read:<\/strong> The return-to-office battle just hit a tipping point. Companies won this round.<\/p>\n The number of commuters \u2014 those driving themselves or carpooling \u2014 has begun recovering from the pandemic decline but hasn\u2019t reached pre-pandemic levels, according to American Community Survey data. In fact, though the total number of workers in 2022 exceeded the number of workers in 2019, the number of commuters still remains lower.<\/p>\n That said, more than 124 million Americans commuted in 2022, accounting for 77% of workers. Though some remote workers are being called back to the office, it\u2019s widely believed that working from home will remain more common now than it was before 2020. Even so, commuters will long outnumber telecommuters.<\/p>\n In 2022, Americans used 116 million vehicles in their commuting, up from 110 million the year prior, according to the U.S. Census Bureau data. And during that time, the costs associated with those vehicles were growing considerably.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> This is now how much it costs the average car owner every month to own and operate a vehicle<\/p>\n The costs of owning a vehicle grew at a double-digit rate every month from April 2021 to November 2022, according to this NerdWallet Vehicle Ownership Costs Index. That growth has slowed in 2023, but fuel prices continue to hold it aloft. Ownership inflation was 11% in September. And since 2019, the costs \u2014 including gas, repairs and maintenance, parking, insurance and licensing costs \u2014 have risen 35%.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re among the millions of commuters on U.S. roadways, you\u2019ve likely seen these trends in real time, as morning traffic during COVID ebbed to nonexistent, and slowly rebuilt to nearly pre-pandemic congestion. While we don\u2019t have the census data for 2023, if you\u2019re driving in rush hour, you can likely guess what those numbers will show.<\/p>\n Commuting costs money and valuable time. Obviously, if your employer is agreeable to a hybrid arrangement of some work-from-home days and some in the office, you can cut a portion of all of these costs. But that isn\u2019t always possible, and the cruel irony is it\u2019s often the lower-paying jobs that require a commute.<\/p>\n Chipping away at your commuter expenses can feel a little like doing dishes or laundry \u2014 there will always be more. But there are a few relatively low-effort ways to ensure you\u2019re not paying more than you need to be.<\/p>\n 1. Shop around for car insurance<\/strong><\/p>\n Auto insurance rates have skyrocketed over the past few years, but only about one-fourth of Americans shop for auto insurance on a regular basis, according to a\u00a0March 2023 NerdWallet survey. Reevaluate your policy from time to time: Ask your current insurer about discounts you might be missing, and compare rates between insurers to ensure you\u2019re not overpaying. Also,\u00a0right-size your coverage\u00a0to fit your needs. While you don\u2019t want too little coverage, which risks a significant loss in the event of an accident, you likely don\u2019t need a pricey policy if your car is paid off and on its last legs.<\/p>\n More:<\/strong> The 9 things that are most likely to affect your auto insurance rates<\/p>\n 2. Fill up on gas discounts and rewards<\/strong><\/p>\n Electric vehicle use is on the rise, but the overwhelming majority of drivers are fueling up at the pump. Because gas accounts for about half of vehicle ownership costs, according to NerdWallet\u2019s analysis, consider\u00a0using an app\u00a0to ensure you\u2019re frequenting the stations with the lowest prices. If you\u2019re loyal to one gas station or grocery store\/gas station combo, look into their loyalty programs. Exxon MobilCommuter numbers rise by 7.5 million in 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Commuter vehicles reach 116 million as ownership costs rise<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Commuter cost-saving strategies<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n XOM,
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\n for example, offers points for purchasing gas and in-store items, and the points can be redeemed for gas savings. Kroger
\n KR,
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\n a national grocery chain, offers one fuel point per dollar spent in their stores, and every 100 fuel points earn a 10-cent discount per gallon of gas.<\/p>\n