Katelyn Washington
High gas prices can make traveling feel even more expensive than it already is, and high gas taxes can make filling up the tank even more painful.
The United States federal gas tax isn’t too bad at 18.4 cents per gallon, but some states charge more than twice that amount. The federal tax on special fuel like diesel is 24.4 cents per gallon, but diesel taxes in several states on this list are much higher. So, if filling up can wait until you cross state lines, it might be worth it.
While you can't change the fact that some states have high gas taxes, knowing which ones do can help you plan your gas stops accordingly. Some states on our list are considering pay-per-mile programs, while others may have you thinking twice about certain commutes to avoid a congestion toll charge.
Some states announced some major tax changes in 2025, with some from our list imposing higher gas taxes as of January 1.
Here are 10 states with the highest gas taxes in 2025.
(Note: State or local sales taxes may not be included in the gas tax totals listed.)
Disclaimer
[Gas and diesel tax prices are based on data from the Federation of Tax Administrators, the Tax Policy Center, and the Tax Foundation. This data reflects prices as of August 2024.]
10. Oregon gas tax
Gas tax total: 40 cents per gallon of gasoline
Oregon taxes gasoline slightly higher than Virginia does. At a 40-cent per gallon tax rate, filling up your tank in Oregon is less than ideal. On the bright side, the state doesn't tax diesel fuel at a higher rate compared to neighboring states. you need diesel, you can expect to pay the same rate of 40 cents per gallon.
If you do need to get gas in Oregon, you can avoid paying tax on any snacks you purchase afterward. Oregon is a state with no sales tax.
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9. North Carolina gas tax
Gas tax total: 40.65 cents per gallon
The excise tax on gasoline in North Carolina is 40.4 cents per gallon. The state adds a modest $0.0025 in additional taxes and fees, resulting in a total tax of 40.65 cents on each gallon of gas you purchase. Drivers with diesel-powered vehicles catch a small break by paying the same tax rate of $40.4.
It doesn't matter which direction you're driving. You will find lower gas taxes in all of North Carolina's bordering states, including South Carolina and Tennessee.
Separately, North Carolina's individual income tax rate was reduced from 4.5% to 4.25% on January 1.
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8. New Jersey gas tax
New Jersey plans to increase its gas tax by 10 cents over the next five years. The Garden State hiked its gas tax by 2 cents last summer, and issued another 2.6-cent increase on January 1, 2025.
That brings New Jersey’s gas tax from $31.8 cents per gallon to 34.4 cents per gallon of gas. Meanwhile, motorists using diesel fuel can expect to pay 38.4 cents per gallon, up from 35.8 cents per gallon. Adding the Motor Fuels Tax, fixed at 10.5 cents for gasoline and 13.5 cents for diesel, the total tax rates for gas and diesel fuel are 44.9 cents and 51.9 cents, respectively.
For more information, see New Jersey's Gas Tax Just Increased.
New Jersey also imposed an additional annual registration fee of $250 upon all zero-emission vehicles last July, which will similarly increase $10 per year until totaling $290 in 2028.
If you're driving south, filling up in Delaware is a great idea since it's one of the states with the lowest gas taxes. If you're headed to New York, you may want to rethink your visit to Manhattan. New York City imposed a new congestion tax in January, raising tolls to anyone traveling south of 60th Street in lower Manhattan.
In the news: The Trump administration subsequently withdrew support for the NYC congestion pricing in February. However, the DOJ reportedly filed a document outlining legal flaws with Trump’s plan to end New York City’s toll pricing. The issue is still under legal dispute.
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7. Maryland gas tax
Gas tax total: About 47 cents per gallon of gasoline
The gas tax in Maryland decreased from 47 to 46.10 cents per gallon last year, down 1.9%. The tax on diesel fuel also fell from 47.75 cents per gallon to 46.85 cents.
That marks the third decrease in that state’s gas tax since the General Assembly passed a law about ten years ago linking the rate to annual inflation, Maryland Matters reported. The drop came despite an increase in inflation over the past year.
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6. Michigan gas tax
Gas tax total: 48 cents per gallon of gasoline
In Michigan, the gas tax for both gasoline and diesel is 30 cents per gallon this year, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury. That’s up from 28.6 cents per gallon for both gasoline and diesel last year.
In addition to state taxes and fees, the federal government imposes taxes and fees on motor fuels totaling 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel motor fuel. Those are excise taxes that are designated to the federal Highway Trust Fund.
According to the Tax Foundation, Michigan’s gas taxes (along with other fees) add up to 48 cents per gallon on average.
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5. Washington gas tax
Gas tax total: 52.82 cents per gallon of gasoline
Gas tax in Washington is 49.4 cents per gallon, rounding out the list of the top five states with the highest taxes for motorists. Drivers with diesel-fueled trucks might rejoice at paying the same 49.4 cents per gallon, but in reality, no drivers win when filling their tanks in the Evergreen State.
Sales tax is also high in Washington state, so grabbing fast food will cost you even more. However, you can enjoy no sales tax if you stop at the grocery store since groceries are tax-exempt in the Evergreen State.
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4. Indiana gas tax
Gas tax total: 56.1 cents per gallon of gasoline
In Indiana, motorists may have noticed a modest uptick in gas prices this summer. The gas tax increased from 34 to 35 cents per gallon in July of last year.
Counting in additional state taxes, Indiana’s gas taxes now total 56.1 cents per gallon, according to the Tax Foundation.
Separately, Indiana is one of the few states with a major tax change in 2025. The Hoosier State is reducing its already flat individual income tax rate from 3.05% to 3% in January 2025. The measure should give residents some relief on their taxes.
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3. Pennsylvania gas tax
Gas tax total: 58.7 cents per gallon of gasoline
Drivers in Pennsylvania can expect to pay nearly 60 cents per gallon at the gas pump. At a whopping 57.6 cents per gallon, it has the third-highest gas tax in the U.S. There's no relief for diesel truck drivers, either. The tax on diesel fuel is 74.1 cents per gallon as of January 1, 2025, according to the government site of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is big, so you might need to get gas before you cross state lines. Neighboring states like New York, New Jersey, and Maryland have fairly high gas taxes as well.
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2. Illinois gas tax
Gas tax total: 67.1 cents per gallon of gasoline
It can be quite pricey to fill up your gas tank in Illinois. The tax on gasoline rose from 45.4 cents per gallon to 47 cents per gallon as of last July. The tax on diesel fuel also rose from 52.9 to 54.4 cents per gallon last summer, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. Overall, the state tax on gas rose from 66.5 cents per gallon to 67.1 cents per gallon – the second highest in the country.
Stocking up on snacks for the road probably isn't the greatest idea in Illinois, either. The state has one of the highest sales tax rates in the country.
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1. California gas tax
California was one of seven states that hiked its gas taxes last July, placing its gas tax at the highest in the nation. The state’s excise tax on gas rose last summer from 57.9 cents per gallon to 59.6 cents per gallon, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
After adding other state fees, California’s gas tax rose from 68.1 cents to roughly 70 cents. The revenue from the uptick in the gas rate will be directed toward various public health and safety programs in California.
It also places the Golden State’s average price per gallon of regular gasoline at about $4.79, as Kiplinger reported.
Given the high gas taxes, it’s no surprise that California has more electric vehicle (EV) drivers than any other state. California has one of the highest statewide sales tax rates, too. So, it’s nearly impossible to avoid paying high taxes when visiting the state, whether or not you drive.
California is actively looking into a pay-per-mile tax.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is reportedly exploring a pay-per-mile charge to replace the state’s gas tax, as revenue from taxing fuel has dwindled. The program, known as Road Charge Collection Pilot, would charge participating drivers around 3 cents per mile. The revenue would be used to fund road and highway maintenance, with the final report due to the state Legislature by December 2026.
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