Special Report
States With the Lowest and Highest Gas Taxes
Published:
A gallon of gas cost an average of $2.80 in the United States as of early March. Gas prices recovered from their sharp dip during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when prices fell as low as $1.74 per gallon — the result of crude oil prices briefly falling below $0 per barrel.
On a more local basis, how much Americans pay at the pump depends on several factors — primarily, the price of crude oil, which is determined in large part by global supply and demand. Other variables affecting the price of a gallon of gasoline include transportation and refining costs and, of course, taxes.
The federal government levies a tax of 18.4 cents on every gallon of gas sold in the United States. On top of that, each state tacks on its own excise tax, which further drives up the cost of fuel. State-imposed taxes and fees can account for anywhere from roughly 5% of the total cost of gas to more than 20%, depending on where you live.
To determine the highest and lowest gas taxes in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on average state gas taxes in January 2021 from the American Petroleum Institute. Data on state gas tax totals does not include the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon. Supplemental data on average prices for regular gas by state came from AAA. Prices are current as of Jan. 26, 2021. Data on annual vehicle miles traveled and the number of licensed drivers used to calculate annual vehicle miles traveled per capita by state in 2019 came from the Federal Highway Administration.
The federal government and state governments use gasoline taxes to fund road construction and repair. Still, higher than average gas taxes do not always translate to well-maintained infrastructure. Here is a list of the states where the largest share of roads and bridges are in a state of disrepair.
With taxes charged at a per gallon rate, gas taxes can quickly add up, particularly for Americans driving larger vehicles. Still, from a historic perspective, the price of gasoline today is relatively inexpensive in the United States. As recently as 2012, the average price was over $4 per gallon, adjusted for inflation. Here is a look at the cost of a gallon of gas the year you were born.
Click here to see the states with the lowest and highest gas taxes.
50. Alaska
> Avg. state gas tax: 13.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.61 per gal. (7th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.3% (the lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,369 (2nd fewest)
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49. Missouri
> Avg. state gas tax: 17.4 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.12 per gal. (4th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.2% (3rd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,617 (8th most)
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48. Mississippi
> Avg. state gas tax: 18.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.10 per gal. (the lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.0% (5th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 19,798 (3rd most)
47. New Mexico
> Avg. state gas tax: 18.9 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.28 per gal. (16th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.3% (4th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 20,512 (2nd most)
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46. Arizona
> Avg. state gas tax: 19.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.41 per gal. (15th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.9% (2nd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,852 (14th fewest)
44. Oklahoma
> Avg. state gas tax: 20.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.12 per gal. (3rd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.4% (8th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 19,464 (4th most)
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44. Texas
> Avg. state gas tax: 20.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.11 per gal. (2nd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.5% (10th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,676 (16th most)
43. Louisiana
> Avg. state gas tax: 20.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.15 per gal. (5th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.3% (6th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,238 (22nd fewest)
42. Colorado
> Avg. state gas tax: 22.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.33 per gal. (25th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.5% (9th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,783 (12th fewest)
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40. Delaware
> Avg. state gas tax: 23.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.46 per gal. (13th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.3% (7th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,841 (13th fewest)
40. North Dakota
> Avg. state gas tax: 23.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.30 per gal. (22nd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.0% (11th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,662 (7th most)
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39. New Hampshire
> Avg. state gas tax: 23.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.34 per gal. (23rd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.2% (12th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,544 (5th fewest)
38. Wyoming
> Avg. state gas tax: 24.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.27 per gal. (15th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.6% (13th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 23,286 (the most)
37. Kansas
> Avg. state gas tax: 24.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.19 per gal. (9th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.0% (14th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,096 (20th most)
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36. South Carolina
> Avg. state gas tax: 24.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.17 per gal. (6th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.4% (16th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,696 (25th fewest)
35. Arkansas
> Avg. state gas tax: 24.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.17 per gal. (7th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.4% (17th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,921 (12th most)
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34. Kentucky
> Avg. state gas tax: 26.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.25 per gal. (14th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.5% (18th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,403 (13th most)
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33. Massachusetts
> Avg. state gas tax: 26.5 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.37 per gal. (18th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.2% (15th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,872 (15th fewest)
32. Tennessee
> Avg. state gas tax: 27.4 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.20 per gal. (10th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.5% (20th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,224 (19th most)
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31. Alabama
> Avg. state gas tax: 29.2 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.18 per gal. (8th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.4% (24th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,855 (6th most)
30. Virginia
> Avg. state gas tax: 29.4 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.31 per gal. (23rd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.7% (22nd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,704 (25th most)
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29. Nebraska
> Avg. state gas tax: 29.6 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.35 per gal. (21st highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.6% (21st lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,731 (23rd most)
27. South Dakota
> Avg. state gas tax: 30.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.34 per gal. (22nd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.8% (24th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,999 (21st most)
27. Iowa
> Avg. state gas tax: 30.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.33 per gal. (25th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.9% (25th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,721 (24th most)
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26. Maine
> Avg. state gas tax: 30.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.42 per gal. (14th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.4% (19th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,029 (20th fewest)
25. Vermont
> Avg. state gas tax: 30.5 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.39 per gal. (17th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.8% (23rd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,132 (17th fewest)
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24. Minnesota
> Avg. state gas tax: 30.6 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.29 per gal. (19th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.3% (25th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,457 (9th most)
23. Utah
> Avg. state gas tax: 31.4 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.29 per gal. (17th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.7% (23rd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,346 (17th most)
22. Montana
> Avg. state gas tax: 32.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.29 per gal. (18th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.3% (20th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,726 (15th most)
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21. Wisconsin
> Avg. state gas tax: 32.9 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.24 per gal. (13th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.7% (16th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,284 (18th most)
20. Idaho
> Avg. state gas tax: 33.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.31 per gal. (24th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.3% (21st highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,444 (23rd fewest)
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19. Georgia
> Avg. state gas tax: 34.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.24 per gal. (12th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 15.2% (13th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,381 (10th most)
18. Rhode Island
> Avg. state gas tax: 35.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.37 per gal. (19th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.8% (15th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,534 (3rd fewest)
17. West Virginia
> Avg. state gas tax: 35.7 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.36 per gal. (20th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 15.1% (14th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,980 (11th most)
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16. Connecticut
> Avg. state gas tax: 35.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.47 per gal. (12th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.5% (18th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,121 (8th fewest)
15. Maryland
> Avg. state gas tax: 36.3 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.48 per gal. (11th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.7% (17th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,527 (18th fewest)
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14. North Carolina
> Avg. state gas tax: 36.4 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.23 per gal. (11th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 16.3% (12th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,091 (14th most)
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13. Ohio
> Avg. state gas tax: 38.5 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.30 per gal. (22nd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 16.7% (11th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,842 (22nd most)
12. Oregon
> Avg. state gas tax: 38.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.69 per gal. (6th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.5% (19th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,733 (11th fewest)
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11. Michigan
> Avg. state gas tax: 42.0 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.33 per gal. (24th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 18.0% (7th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,219 (21st fewest)
10. Indiana
> Avg. state gas tax: 42.2 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.30 per gal. (20th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 18.4% (6th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,898 (5th most)
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9. Florida
> Avg. state gas tax: 42.5 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.39 per gal. (16th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 17.8% (8th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,639 (24th fewest)
8. New York
> Avg. state gas tax: 42.7 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.50 per gal. (10th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 17.1% (10th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,278 (the fewest)
7. Hawaii
> Avg. state gas tax: 46.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $3.34 per gal. (2nd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.0% (22nd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,060 (7th fewest)
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6. Washington
> Avg. state gas tax: 49.4 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.82 per gal. (3rd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 17.5% (9th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,079 (4th fewest)
5. Nevada
> Avg. state gas tax: 50.5 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.74 per gal. (4th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 18.4% (5th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,716 (19th fewest)
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4. New Jersey
> Avg. state gas tax: 50.7 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.55 per gal. (8th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 19.9% (3rd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,336 (9th fewest)
3. Illinois
> Avg. state gas tax: 52.2 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.54 per gal. (9th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 20.5% (2nd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,599 (10th fewest)
2. Pennsylvania
> Avg. state gas tax: 58.7 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $2.70 per gal. (5th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 21.7% (the highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,572 (6th fewest)
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1. California
> Avg. state gas tax: 63.1 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 26 2021: $3.38 per gal. (the highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 18.6% (4th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,915 (16th fewest)
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