The Popular Car Accessory That Could Be Costing You More At The Pump

In any economic climate, consumers can benefit from tamping down on unnecessary expenses to keep their budget under control. Amid the landscape of global conflicts transpiring in spring 2026, this is particularly true for drivers. Uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz and the Iran war have sent oil prices careening, and the price drivers pay at the pump is experiencing chaotic unpredictability. Trading Economics reports the price of gasoline futures sits at $3.55 per gallon, as of mid-May 2026, and the current price spike is the highest it's reached since May 2022 when prices eclipsed $4 per gallon. There are plenty of habits drivers can nip in the bud to save money on fuel, but one task aimed at this change is incredibly simple: Studies consistently show that roof racks, which have increased in popularity in recent years, interfere with the streamlined airflow generated by the typical car body as it moves along a road and negatively impact fuel economy as a result. One 2023 study by Car and Driver found a 3-mile-per-gallon improvement after removing the factory crossbars from the top of a Kia Carnival when it was driven at 75 miles per hour on highway conditions.

That may not sound like a major change, but this slight improvement really adds up to major savings over the long term — especially considering that the average American driver logs almost 13,500 miles per year, according to 2022 data reported by the Federal Highway Administration. Most importantly, drivers only need to make a minor alteration to their vehicle to benefit, rather than rethink how they drive altogether.

Even if you invest in a more aerodynamic roof rack for your car's hauling needs, you'll lose at least some fuel efficiency by making the change. The numbers vary depending on a wide range of factors, but Consumer Reports found in 2020 that a Toyota RAV4 experienced a 13% reduction in fuel economy — around 5 miles per gallon — when a pod was attached to its roof rack. Without the added storage compartment, the roof rack alone contributed to a 2% decline in fuel efficiency. On a sedan, these figures jumped to an 11% reduction with just the rack installed, and a 19% loss with the rooftop pod installed. Meanwhile, Car and Driver found the addition of horizontal crossbars running the width of a Kia Carnival's roof pointed to a range reduction of about 60 miles in its highway testing.

With gas prices averaging $4.534 per gallon (via AAA) and the Kia's performance delivering three fewer miles per gallon with crossbars attached, the result of this testing yielded an increase of nearly $11 per tank of fuel with the loss of that extra mileage. Americans spend just over 3% of their total budget on gasoline, according to 2024 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, adding up to just under $2,411 annually. So, taking a few minutes to remove your roof rack when you don't need it for a long trip could ultimately save you a considerable amount of cash that would otherwise get burnt out of your budget as a wasteful added expense.