Auto Club: Statewide Average Price Zooms Over $6 A Gallon For First Time Since 2023

Gas price averages statewide and in many Southern California metro areas skyrocketed in the last week to over $6 a gallon as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and oil prices remain high, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. Today's statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $6.01, up 17 cents from last week and $1.24 higher than at this time last year. The national average zoomed up 27 cents in a week to $4.30, which is $1.12 higher than on this date last year.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $6.10 per gallon, 16 cents higher than last week and $1.33 higher than a year ago. In San Diego, the average price is $6.06 - 18 cents higher than last week and $1.30 higher than this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.91, up 16 cents from last week and $1.21 higher than a year ago. In Riverside, the average price per gallon is $5.93, 15 cents higher than last week and $1.29 higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.91 average is seven cents higher than last week and $1.22 higher than one year ago.

The first time California's average gas price topped $6 a gallon was three months after the Ukraine-Russia war began in 2022, and it stayed above $6 for two months. The state average price again topped $6 in the fall of 2022 and 2023 when a summer blend fuel shortage forced the state to allow early sales of winter blend gasoline.

"California's gasoline supply is significantly affected by the Strait of Hormuz closure," said Auto Club spokesperson Kandace Redd. "According to the California Energy Commission, in 2025 the state relied upon Middle East countries for 29 percent of the oil it used in the state's refineries to produce gasoline. Additionally, the gasoline that California imports from refineries in other countries is also heavily reliant on oil from the Middle East."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on April 30, averages are:

The Auto Club recommends these tips for drivers to save money on fuel:

• Optimize your fuel economy with steady speeds, no hard braking, and no "jackrabbit starts."
• Don't haul extra weight in the passenger compartment or trunk, which reduces fuel economy.
• Properly maintain your vehicle and keep tires properly inflated according to the pressure listed in your owner's manual, which will optimize fuel economy.
• Use the recommended fuel for your vehicle, and don't use mid-grade or premium unless it is specifically recommended in your owner's manual. AAA research shows the higher-grade fuel offers no extra benefit for vehicles that aren't required to use it.
• Look into discounts. AAA members who sign up for the Shell Fuel Rewards Program at AAA.com/Shell can save 30 cents a gallon on their first fill-up, and five cents a gallon on all other fill-ups. Other retailers such as grocery stores also offer fuel discount programs, and some credit cards offer gas discounts.
• If your household has more than one vehicle, use the most fuel-efficient one as much as possible.
• Consolidate errands to reduce mileage and avoid driving during peak hours when traffic congestion will reduce your fuel efficiency.