Pending Doomsday for California Notaries (ONLY)

[Bobby-CA]

Rising Fuel Costs in 2026 Affecting Mobile Notaries in California

What’s Happening Here?

A troubling problem is looming over the mobile notary profession (principally, Loan Signing Agents¹), in California**.** Did you know that as of November 2025, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is around $4.578, based on Auto Club of America data? And, while recent prices are similar to a year ago, university studies predict potential increases for 2026 up to $1.21 cents per gallon and probably more!! Take a look:

Current average prices – December 1, 2025^*

• Regular: Approximately $4.578 per gallon

• Premium: Approximately $5.002 per gallon

^*Source: AAA statistics

Projected average prices – December 1, 2026^*(a year from now)

• Regular: Approximately $5.77 per gallon (minimum)

• Premium: Approximately $8.43 per gallon (maximum predicted)

^*Source: University of California - Davis

Why is This Happening?

First, the closure of two California-based refineries, a Phillips 66 refinery and a Valero refinery, which account for nearly 17% of the state’s refining capacity, is the major factor in this forecast. Second, and no less dramatic, are some adverse state-level policy changes, including a gas tax increase and the imposition of new Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulations (LCFS) that go into effect in just over a month.

This is a “double-whammy”. And there’s NO stopping it. The question is, what can we mobile notaries do about it?

I have been working on this problem for a while and have developed some strategies that may help mitigate the impact of the gasoline problem but, I’m gonna need the help of every California Mobile Notary to present viable solutions to all parties concerned. Here’s what I propose:

1. Do your research. Google “gas prices rise in California in 2026” or something similar and read for yourself what’s happening. Follow the lead and keep reading so you become fully informed about this issue.
2. Make notes. Write down your thoughts and reactions, no matter how simple or brief. Maybe you’ve got the beginnings of a solution. Send them to me through the messaging system on this forum. I’ll collect and distill them into a cohesive summary for a presentation deck.
3. Be mindful. The legislation has already passed. The refineries are already in closure-mode. The deal is done. No going back, no reversals. Let’s not attack, complain or try to circumvent. We have to work within the confines of this new reality so creativity and practicality are what’s called for. Be mindful that there is no adversary here. Nobody wants gas prices to rise. But since they surely will, think carefully how we as a special interest group will recover the added expenses we face just ahead. Charging more for a signing is the obvious place to start but one can quickly conclude that that approach may present problems of it’s own. What’s needed is a method or a formula or a scale of some sort that is easily understood, fully implementable and widely accepted by all concerned parties to overcome this problem.
4. Let’s see what y’all come up with. We’re in this together and it won’t be easy but we will be united.

[ewing_joe]

I bought a Tesla last year, and it’s been the perfect car for my needs. It requires no maintenance, and I charge it in my garage from solar panels on my roof. I subscribe to self-driving, and by simple voice command, it takes me anywhere I tell it, night or day, without touching the brakes, accelerator, or steering wheel. It is the most useful tool for our business that has ever been invented.

[denisementz]

Bobby~

I appreciate what you’re doing. I’ve thought about this 1,000 times. This is my career, my job, and I dont take it lightly. If a job gets put on hold by title I make sure the signer knows I’m not coming to the appt. Even if they already know there’s more times than not no one let them know. Communication is awful between title, signing service back to us little low man on totem pole notaries. I treat others time, how I would like to be treated. Somehow we have to let escrow know our worth and value we bring to the table. All other fees have gone up on the settlement statement since 2007 when I first became a notary. But yet I’m still being paid the same and sometimes less than I did back then. We are the only face these signers see yet are not paid accordingly.

Denise

[Bobby-CA]

[Tesla] is the most useful tool for our business that has ever been invented.

Well, since the pen anyway.