How far can you go when your car's fuel gauge reads empty and shows zero miles remaining?

We've all been there. The orange gas light pops on, warning us it's time to hit the gas station. It's not like we don't keep an eye on our gas gauge, but if you're like me, sometimes pushing it to the limit just happens because filling up with gas is one less stop or errand we have to worry about for the moment.

However, sometimes, we are surprised when it lights up, and most cars even tell us how many miles we have left. But how accurate is that? Can we have zero miles left and still realistically have a few miles left? I mean, our cars aren't just going to hit the zero miles left mark and start puttering to a stop, right?

According to AAA, each fuel system is different, so the gauge, tank, and type of gasoline all vary depending on the make and model of your car. How you drive also depends on your speed and terrain.

Generally speaking, once your gas light comes on and you've seen how many miles you have remaining—even if it shows zero miles—you can typically drive for a few more miles. Many vehicles provide a buffer of about 10 miles. However, it's best not to rely solely on that; treat the zero miles left as a signal to seek out a gas station promptly. Only the manufacturer of your vehicle can provide precise information about that buffer zone.

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