Not including the cost of crude oil, taxes are the single largest factor in determining how much Americans pay at the pump. Combined, federal and state taxes add more to the price of a gallon of gas than refining costs, retail markup, and transportation expenses.
The federal government and state governments use gasoline taxes to fund road construction and repair. Gasoline taxes also help preserve road conditions by making driving, which wears down on roadways, more expensive.
The federal government levies an 18.4 cent tax on every gallon of gasoline sold in the United States. On top of that, each state imposes its own tax — and in almost every case, the state tax is higher than the federal tax. A handful of states charge more than double the national tax level.
Click here to see the states with the highest and lowest gas taxes.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed state tax levels from industry advocacy group the American Petroleum Institute to identify the states with the highest and lowest gas taxes. Due largely to taxes assessed at the state level, motorists in some states are paying much more at the pump than in others — often, as much as 50% to 75% more.
How much a state chooses to tax a gallon of gas does indeed appear to affect residents’ driving habits. Nationwide, the typical motorist drives 14,318 miles a year. In seven of the 10 states with the lowest gas taxes, people tend to drive more. Meanwhile, people on average drive less in the eight of the 10 states with the highest gas taxes.
To identify the states with the highest and lowest gas taxes, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed state and average local gas taxes from the American Petroleum Institute. Average gas prices as of Jan. 11, 2019 for each state came from AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. We also reviewed average annual vehicle miles travelled in each state from the Federal Highway Administration.
Source: kyletperry / Getty Images
50. Alaska
> State gas tax: 14.7 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.98 per gal. (4th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 4.9% (the lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,837 (the lowest)
See all stories featuring: Alaska
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Source: Flapane / Wikimedia Commons
49. Missouri
> State gas tax: 17.4 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.88 per gal. (the lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.2% (4th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,418 (10th highest)
See all stories featuring: Missouri
Source: typhoonski / Getty Images
48. Mississippi
> State gas tax: 18.8 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.92 per gal. (4th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.8% (6th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 20,187 (2nd highest)
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
Source: grandriver / Getty Images
47. New Mexico
> State gas tax: 18.9 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.13 per gal. (22nd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.9% (3rd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 18,324 (4th highest)
See all stories featuring: New Mexico
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Source: samtoppingphoto / Flickr
46. Arizona
> State gas tax: 19.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.61 per gal. (7th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.3% (2nd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,944 (14th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Arizona
Source: ~UserGI15632746 / Getty Images
45. Oklahoma
> State gas tax: 20.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.93 per gal. (6th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.4% (11th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 19,620 (3rd highest)
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
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Source: grandriver / Getty Images
44. Texas
> State gas tax: 20.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.93 per gal. (7th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.4% (10th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,082 (11th highest)
See all stories featuring: Texas
Source: CrackerClips / Getty Images
43. Louisiana
> State gas tax: 20.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.92 per gal. (5th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.4% (12th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,478 (22nd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Louisiana
Source: Idawriter / Wikimedia Commons
42. Virginia
> State gas tax: 20.7 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.02 per gal. (12th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.2% (8th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,287 (20th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Virginia
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Source: RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images
41. South Carolina
> State gas tax: 20.8 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.94 per gal. (8th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.7% (15th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,560 (24th lowest)
See all stories featuring: South Carolina
Source: pelicankate / Getty Images
40. Alabama
> State gas tax: 21.1 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.91 per gal. (3rd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.0% (17th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,557 (7th highest)
See all stories featuring: Alabama
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Source: bjmcdonald / Flickr
39. Arkansas
> State gas tax: 21.8 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.90 per gal. (2nd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.5% (18th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,953 (20th highest)
See all stories featuring: Arkansas
Source: grandriver / Getty Images
38. Colorado
> State gas tax: 22.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.16 per gal. (25th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.2% (7th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,824 (12th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Colorado
Source: Leonid Eremeychuk / Getty Images
37. Delaware
> State gas tax: 23.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.10 per gal. (19th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.9% (16th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,457 (17th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Delaware
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Source: SteveOehlenschlager / Getty Images
36. North Dakota
> State gas tax: 23.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.18 per gal. (23rd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.6% (13th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,519 (8th highest)
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
Source: Mary Pat Wright / Getty Images
35. New Hampshire
> State gas tax: 23.8 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.33 per gal. (18th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.2% (9th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,326 (9th lowest)
See all stories featuring: New Hampshire
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Source: photosbyjim / Getty Images
34. Wyoming
> State gas tax: 24.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.49 per gal. (11th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.6% (5th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 22,139 (the highest)
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
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Source: BeyondImages / Getty Images
33. Kansas
> State gas tax: 24.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.97 per gal. (9th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.2% (21st lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,814 (16th highest)
See all stories featuring: Kansas
Source: TatyanaMishchenko / Getty Images
32. Kentucky
> State gas tax: 26.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.05 per gal. (13th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.7% (22nd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,267 (13th highest)
See all stories featuring: Kentucky
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Source: GreenStock / Getty Images
31. Tennessee
> State gas tax: 26.4 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $1.99 per gal. (10th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.3% (25th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,791 (24th highest)
See all stories featuring: Tennessee
Source: BAKillgoar / Getty Images
30. Massachusetts
> State gas tax: 26.5 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.49 per gal. (14th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.7% (14th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,265 (8th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Massachusetts
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Source: Yelantsevv / Getty Images
29. Ohio
> State gas tax: 28.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.06 per gal. (16th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.6% (23rd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,873 (21st highest)
See all stories featuring: Ohio
Source: skhoward / Getty Images
28. Minnesota
> State gas tax: 28.6 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.07 per gal. (18th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.8% (22nd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,475 (9th highest)
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
Source: knowlesgallery / Getty Images
27. Nebraska
> State gas tax: 28.9 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.05 per gal. (14th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.1% (18th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,739 (25th highest)
See all stories featuring: Nebraska
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Source: shelbjstew / Getty Images
26. Utah
> State gas tax: 29.4 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.52 per gal. (10th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.7% (20th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,042 (15th highest)
See all stories featuring: Utah
Source: Jacob Boomsma / Getty Images
25. South Dakota
> State gas tax: 30.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.16 per gal. (25th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.9% (20th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,268 (18th highest)
See all stories featuring: South Dakota
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Source: gmnicholas / Getty Images
24. Maine
> State gas tax: 30.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.26 per gal. (21st highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.3% (24th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,528 (23rd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Maine
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Source: RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images
23. Iowa
> State gas tax: 30.7 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.01 per gal. (11th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 15.3% (16th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,845 (22nd highest)
See all stories featuring: Iowa
Source: DmitriMaruta / Getty Images
22. Georgia
> State gas tax: 31.6 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.06 per gal. (17th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 15.3% (15th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 17,604 (6th highest)
See all stories featuring: Georgia
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Source: ogergo / Getty Images
21. Vermont
> State gas tax: 31.8 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.49 per gal. (12th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.8% (24th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,333 (16th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Vermont
Source: cpaulfell / Getty Images
20. Montana
> State gas tax: 32.3 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.32 per gal. (19th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.9% (21st highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,805 (17th highest)
See all stories featuring: Montana
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Source: BanksPhotos / Getty Images
19. Wisconsin
> State gas tax: 32.9 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.06 per gal. (15th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 16.0% (12th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,225 (19th highest)
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
Source: Danamallard51 / Getty Images
18. Idaho
> State gas tax: 33.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.49 per gal. (13th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.3% (25th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,815 (23rd highest)
See all stories featuring: Idaho
Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons
17. Nevada
> State gas tax: 33.8 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.91 per gal. (5th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.6% (19th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,307 (21st lowest)
See all stories featuring: Nevada
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
16. Rhode Island
> State gas tax: 34.0 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.42 per gal. (16th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.0% (19th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,525 (3rd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
Source: 39908901@N06 / Flickr
15. Maryland
> State gas tax: 35.3 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.21 per gal. (22nd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 16.0% (13th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,866 (18th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Maryland
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Source: abadonian / Getty Images
14. North Carolina
> State gas tax: 35.4 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.10 per gal. (20th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 16.8% (10th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,066 (14th highest)
See all stories featuring: North Carolina
Source: BackyardProduction / Getty Images
13. West Virginia
> State gas tax: 35.7 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.28 per gal. (20th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 15.7% (14th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,854 (12th highest)
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
Source: GarysFRP / Getty Images
12. Oregon
> State gas tax: 36.8 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.89 per gal. (6th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.7% (23rd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,858 (13th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Oregon
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Source: tvirbickis / Getty Images
11. Illinois
> State gas tax: 37.5 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.14 per gal. (23rd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 17.5% (7th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,603 (11th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Illinois
Source: NicolasMcComber / Getty Images
10. Florida
> State gas tax: 41.4 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.12 per gal. (21st lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 19.5% (4th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,688 (25th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Florida
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Source: Roman Babakin / Getty Images
9. New Jersey
> State gas tax: 41.4 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.33 per gal. (17th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 17.7% (6th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,358 (10th lowest)
See all stories featuring: New Jersey
Source: JennaWagner / Getty Images
8. Indiana
> State gas tax: 42.9 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.14 per gal. (24th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 20.0% (3rd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 18,269 (5th highest)
See all stories featuring: Indiana
Source: CHBD / Getty Images
7. Connecticut
> State gas tax: 43.5 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.56 per gal. (8th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 17.0% (8th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,117 (7th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Connecticut
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Source: RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images
6. Michigan
> State gas tax: 44.1 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.17 per gal. (24th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 20.4% (2nd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,055 (19th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Michigan
Source: Meinzahn / Getty Images
5. New York
> State gas tax: 45.6 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.56 per gal. (9th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 17.8% (5th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,289 (2nd lowest)
See all stories featuring: New York
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Source: YinYang / Getty Images
4. Hawaii
> State gas tax: 48.1 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $3.28 per gal. (2nd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.6% (17th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,415 (6th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Hawaii
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Source: Silvrshootr / Getty Images
3. Washington
> State gas tax: 49.4 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $3.01 per gal. (3rd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 16.4% (11th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,827 (4th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Washington
Source: Pgiam / Getty Images
2. California
> State gas tax: 55.5 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $3.29 per gal. (the highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 16.9% (9th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,982 (15th lowest)
See all stories featuring: California
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Source: RomanBabakin / Getty Images
1. Pennsylvania
> State gas tax: 58.7 cents per gal.
> Gas price as of mid-Jan. 2019: $2.48 per gal. (15th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 23.7% (the highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,266 (5th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania
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