We spend more on petrol

Karen Collier
Herald Sun
February 22, 2012

VICTORIAN drivers are pumping an average $1264 worth of petrol into their vehicles each year, far more than spent on eating out and entertainment.

And men are outspending women, fuelling suggestions they are not as budget conscious, a major study has found.
The state’s motorists visited the bowser an average 27 times, about once a fortnight.

Analysis of Eftpos and credit card transactions drawn from a national database of two million National Australia Bank customers in the past year reveals:

TOYOTA drivers spend an average of $61 per service station visit, while Ford, Holden and Mazda drivers spend $53 and Volvo owners are overall highest at $81.

MICKLEHAM in Melbourne’s north has the nation’s biggest average annual spend per person of $3367.

WOMEN prefer regular, small top-ups rather than running almost dry and filling the whole tank. One in 15 service station visits in Victoria are for top-ups.

ACROSS Australia, men spend an average $48 per visit compared with $44 for women.

THE most popular time to buy petrol is 9am-2pm. We are least likely to buy fuel from 7am-9am.

Data analytics firm Quantium compiled the insight using de-identified transaction details.

Quantium’s Tony Davis said spending differences were mainly due to car types and distances travelled.

There was also a theory that men cared less about cheap petrol than women, or that mums with kids in tow needed quick pit stops rather than filling entire tanks.

“Some men see their car as an extension of themselves and could be less price sensitive at the bowser,” Mr Davis said.

The research found a typical Australian spent $300 more on fuel last year than eating out.

Designer Zach Sengstock, 22, became disgruntled when petrol prices varied as often as they did in Melbourne.

“It becomes difficult to plan your weekly allowances when the prices become so unpredictable,” Mr Sengstock said.

“Quite often I’ll use my bike to get around locally to avoid paying $70 each week on petrol.”

AT THE PUMP

Top 10 places based on the average spend per person:

Mickleham …… $3367
Barongarook West …… $3124
Kirwans Bridge …… $3048
Buln Buln …… $2874
Tenby Point …… $2856
Guys Hill …… $2817
Moorooduc …… $2814
Freshwater Creek …… $2796
Smiths Beach …… $2789
Darraweit Guin …… $2788

Men spend $48 a visit and women $44. Just over 6 per cent of Victorians’ visits to the petrol station are top-ups, or one in 15

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