In recent years, prices at the pump have increased substantially. Taxes on gasoline only add insult to injury.
Some states have gas taxes that are relatively low. But in other places, you will have to dig extra deep to pay these fees.
Recently, the Tax Foundation calculated the total gas tax rate in each state. These rates reflect many types of fees, such as:
- Excise taxes on gas
- Sales taxes on gas
- Taxes wholesalers impose
- Various types of operational taxes
Read on for a look at the states with the highest gasoline taxes in America right now.
1. California
This state’s total gas tax rate: 77.9 cents per gallon
Average price for regular gas in this state: $5.175 per gallon as of Aug. 16
Gas tax as a share of gas cost: About 15.1%
California gas costs are perpetually among the nation’s highest — for context, today’s national average price for regular gas is only $3.873 per gallon, according to AAA. But as we have reported, California has unique requirements for its gas blends that help the environment, even if they hurt driver wallets.
2. Illinois
This state’s total gas tax rate: 66.5 cents per gallon
Average price for regular gas in this state: $4.175 per gallon as of Aug. 16
Gas tax as a share of gas cost: About 15.9%
Pity poor Illinois drivers: They have been subject to two gas tax hikes this year. As a result, Illinois drivers now pay 6.2 cents more per gallon in gas taxes than they did at the end of 2022.
3. Pennsylvania
This state’s total gas tax rate: 62.2 cents per gallon
Average price for regular gas in this state: $3.913 per gallon as of Aug. 16
Gas tax as a share of gas cost: About 15.9%
Pennsylvania’s gas tax rose 3 cents this year. Almost immediately after the hike went into effect, legislators introduced a bill to bring it back down.
Other states with steep gas taxes
Here are the rest of the states where total gas taxes exceed 40 cents a gallon:
- Indiana: 54.4 cents per gallon
- Washington: 49.4 cents
- Michigan: 47.2 cents
- New Jersey: 41.4 cents
- North Carolina: 40.75 cents
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