Man notices driver ahead of him at gas station put just $7 of gas in car and his quiet response to it ends up leaving another driver in tears
Published on Aug 24, 2026 at 1:56 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Aug 24, 2026 at 1:56 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
A heart-warming scene took place in Perth, Australia, when a driver put almost exactly $7 of gas in their car.
The vehicle wasn’t particularly tiny, and therefore the gas tank can’t have been that small.
The driver behind them at the gas station took notice.
And what happened next was movie worthy.
Different countries have different habits
This may sound a little strange, but putting exactly $10 or $20 in a gas tank isn’t unheard of.
Obviously, people who do this aren’t rich, but they’re not necessarily in dire straits either.
It’s all down to human psychology.
Putting $20 of fuel in your car stems from the exact same psychological dynamics as buying something in installments, even though the full tank might cost $100 or so.
Delayed or parceled-out payments give us the illusion of being more in control of our finances.
It’s a cultural thing, too.
Studies confirm that in some countries, most people do not fill up their tanks.
They can do $20 or maybe even $50 or $100, but they rarely fill up the tank.
In some countries, this is so common it led to a running joke, or a meme.
“I don’t care if gas prices go up or down, you know, I always put $20 of fuel anyway,” the joke goes.
But, on this occasion, that’s not what happened.
Why this person only spent $7 at the gas station
Speaking to ABC Perth, local resident Rachel Greville recounted what happened when somebody else offered to pay for her fuel.
“[They told me to ‘fill up the tank’] and I said, ‘You’re having a laugh. No way. I can’t afford it,” Rachel said.
At that point, the stranger said: “No, make sure you fill up, I’m paying for it.”
The good Samaritan ended up doing the same for other people, including somebody who’d only put the equivalent of $7 of fuel in the tank.
Most people don’t like to look at it this way, but in today’s world, fuel is essential – almost like food or shelter.
At the very least, we need it to get to work and to the grocery store.
So what this stranger did for those around them at the gas station was a true act of kindness.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
