Rising gas prices are just another part of life, but sometimes those spikes can feel out of hand. Following President Biden’s ban on Russian imports of gas and oil in March 2022, drivers watched the price of fuel tick steadily upwards at gas stations around the country. With supply and demand out of balance as the nation emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, gas prices are continuing to put pressure on Americans’ already suffocating budgets.

Fortunately, we're here to break down the state of gas prices in Virginia.

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What is the average price of gas in Virginia?

As of May 2022,

AAA

reported that the average price of a gallon of gas in Virginia was $4.46. Compared to the national average of $4.59/gallon, Virginians are paying slightly less than much of the rest of the country, but more than neighbors in Kentucky and Tennessee (both $4.30/gal).

Of course, that’s the average across the board—but not all gasses go for the same price, and not all parts of Virginia have the same average rates. Let’s break it down by fuel grade:

Regular: $4.46/gal

Mid-grade: $4.83/gal

Premium: $5.17/gal

Diesel: $5.62/gal

If your car runs on

diesel

premium

gas, you’re probably feeling the pinch of rising prices more than others. If you also own a car that can run on regular or mid-grade fuel, this might be a good time to rely more heavily on that other ride.

MORE:Is premium gas worth the price?

Which city in Virginia has the highest gas prices?

It’s probably no surprise that the Washington, D.C. metro area has the highest gas prices in Virginia. The average price of regular gasoline here is $4.60/gal, and in Fairfax County the average is as high as $4.70/gal across the board.

The next-highest gas prices, however, can be found in Harrisonburg and the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News metropolitan area. In all these places, the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline is $4.48.

Why are gas prices in Virginia so high?

The price of gas in Virginia might be below the current national average in early 2022, but that $4.46/gal is a 14-year record for the state. If you’ve been struggling to fill your tank without draining your bank account, you might be wondering what’s responsible for the surge in fuel costs.

According to Vinod Agarwal, an economics professor at Old Dominion University: uncertainty. There’s certainly plenty of that to go around in 2022, but the most potent source of uncertainty driving market instability is the Russia-Ukraine war. As the West tightens its economic sanctions on Putin’s superpower and the Middle East fails to pump up production, the ripple effects will keep washing back to ordinary Virginians.

For how long? “It will depend upon the duration of the war,” Prof. Agarwal says.

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How to deal with Virginia’s gas prices

So, aside from waiting for the end of global conflicts, what can you do to ride the wave of Virginia’s rising gas prices? Luckily,

Jerry

knows a thing or two about

saving on car-related expenses

. If you’re feeling the pain at the pump, consider these savings hacks to get you through the fuel crisis:

Drive carefully: Not only does aggressive driving waste gas, you could actually earn an

insurance discount

for safe driving behaviors!

Use cruise control: One easy way to maximize your car’s fuel economy is to take advantage of your cruise control function.

Pick up some maintenance and DIY skills: If you learn

how to properly maintain your car

, you’ll save on labor costs for routine services like

oil changes

—and prevent more serious (and expensive) long-term damage!

Go electric: Electric and hybrid cars are becoming

more affordable every year

, and the fuel savings are no joke!

Refinance your auto loan: If you’re struggling to keep on top of your car loan payments in addition to refueling, giving yourself financial breathing room could be as simple as using Jerry’s

auto refi

services!

Switch to a new insurance company: Not all insurance policies are created equal. Use the

Jerry

app today to see if you could save on insurance with a different company.

Save money on car insurance in Virginia

If you’re struggling to afford the gas you need, you might be looking for some desperate solutions. Before you sell your car and start getting up at 4am to bike to work, download the

Jerry

app to check for a lower rate on car insurance.

From start to finish, the shopping process takes about 45 seconds, and if you find a lower rate from one of Jerry’s 55+ partner companies, our team of experts will help you switch promptly to lock in those savings as soon as possible. And we’re not talking about an extra $2 a month—on average, Jerry users save $800+ per year on

car insurance

“

Jerry

makes choosing new insurance as easy as grocery shopping. Even though I had a car accident within the past 2 years, Jerry found me a great deal with Nationwide–I went from paying $340 to $90 a month!”—Pan N.