Why does a car’s petrol gauge seem to conspire against us at the worst possible time? The tank seems to be empty the moment we’re running late for an important meeting or airport pickup. Somehow it feels like the fuel tank dropped from half-full to near-on-empty while we slept. It’s all highly suspicious, so we thought we’d investigate the possible reasons.

Theory #1: Murphy’s Law

Murphy’s Law goes along the lines of ‘anything that can go wrong, will go wrong – and at the worst possible time’. That means that when the stakes are high and you simply can’t be late, of course your car will demand a detour to the servo.

Why does your fuel gauge indicator act inversely to the urgency of the situation? It’s simply the way things go. Is this a fatalist way to look at things? Sure, but it might make you feel a little better as you try to slip into that meeting 20 minutes late without being noticed.

Theory #2: A curse

Could that suddenly-empty fuel tank come down to a curse that befell an ancestor? Perhaps your great-great-great-great-someone forgot to say thank you to a wise woman, and their lineage was cursed for all eternity to have an inefficient horse and cart. Apparently around 40% of the world’s population still believe in witchcraft, so if you ask them it could be a feasible theory.

Or is this more of a message from the universe? A cosmic curse that follows you from car to car, dooming you to a lifetime of last-minute refuels and red-faced apologies. Sure – there could be more devastating hexes, but it’s just annoying enough to be believable.

Theory #3: Your car is moonlighting

In this cost of living crisis, it seems everyone’s taking on another job. In fact as of 2024, 6.7% of working Aussies are hustling hard with multiple roles. Could it be that your car is secretly venturing out at night to take part in the gig economy? Between ride-hailing, food delivery and car-share services, there are plenty of opportunities for hard-working vehicles these days.

Perhaps your car is saving up for a fancy new paint job, or working towards an early retirement to a countryside retreat so it can take daily scenic drives. Either way, this theory could explain why your fuel tank is running on empty when you really need to be somewhere. Signs that your car is moonlighting while you sleep could include the scent of strange perfumes or even the odd wallet left in the back seat. Verdict: unlikely, but we need to consider all possibilities here.

Theory #4: Our propensity for procrastination

Realistically, this is the most likely explanation. Life gets hectic, and we end up running on coffee and adrenaline. Sadly, our cars can’t do the same. It’s pretty common to put off refuelling to some other time, especially when you feel like fuel could be cheaper on another day of the week. Then we get caught up in getting to work, buying groceries and making sure the bins go out on the right night, and lo and behold – the fuel tank’s empty!

It’s almost like it’s something we could anticipate and avoid happening again. But it happens to the best of us, and it’s probably pretty common. Over 36% of Aussie drivers fill up once a fortnight, which makes it tricky to make refuelling a frequent habit.

So – is it possible to avoid last-minute refuelling?

Whether our cars have developed a sixth sense for inconvenient timing or we’re simply a little too busy, there are a few ways to avoid that madcap dash to the bowser. You could plan to fuel up the day before a big event, or to top up on certain days of the week. Some people like to make it a habit of always keeping the tank half full. You could also have better luck with a fuel efficient car that needs refuelling less often – or even an electric one that you can charge at home.

Carma makes it simple to find used cars in outstanding condition, including efficient, hybrid and electric cars. You can start your used car search, buy a car online and have it delivered to your door before you know it, complete with 7 days to drive and decide and a 3-month warranty. Sounds good right? Here’s where you can begin your search.

Time to fill up?