Americans are gradually returning to the nation’s roadways, after the pandemic had suppressed travel. Gas prices have followed suit. Drivers now pay an average of $3.31 per gallon, according to AAA, from the sharp drop during the early days of the coronavirus, when gallon prices tumbled to as low as $1.74. (You might want to consider buying one of the most fuel-efficient brand new cars on the market.)
What Americans pay at the pump depends on the price of crude oil, determined by global supply and demand forces; the cost of transporting the fuel and refining costs; and taxes. Taxes are one of the variables responsible for the fact that the price of gas varies from region to region in the United States. To determine the states with the highest and lowest gas taxes, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on average state gas taxes in January 2022 from the American Petroleum Institute.
Already built into the price of a gallon of gas is the federal government tax of 18.4 cents. Each state also adds an excise tax. State-levied taxes and fees can account for anywhere from roughly 5% to more than 20% of the total cost of gas. (Note that taxes on diesel fuel are higher than those on gasoline in most states.) Federal and state governments have directed gasoline taxes to fund road construction and repair.
Click here to see the states with the highest gas prices
The price of gasoline has been a sore spot for inflation-strapped consumers. From December 2020 to December 2021, the energy index portion of the Consumer Price Index leaped 29.3%, boosting the overall index by 7%, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending June 1982. (No matter how pricey, gas is still a bargain in the U.S. compared to most other places. These are the countries with the most expensive gas last summer.)
For motorists in California, who pay some of the highest gas prices in the nation, some relief might be on the way. California taxes gasoline at 68.2 cents per gallon, and that levy is scheduled to increase on July 1 because of inflation. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to stop that hike, at least for this year, because the state is running a projected budget surplus of $45.7 billion, lifted by a massive increase in tax collections.
To determine the highest and lowest gas taxes in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on average state gas taxes in January 2022 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 the AAA. Prices are current as of Jan. 14, 2021. Annual vehicle miles traveled per driver was calculated using data on total vehicle miles traveled in 2020 from the Federal Highway Administration and an estimate of the number of licensed drivers in 2020 based on FHWA data for the number of licensed drivers in 2019 and 2020 population data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
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50. Alaska
> Avg. state gas tax: 15.1 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.76 per gal. (6th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 4% (the lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,012 (8th fewest)
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49. Mississippi
> Avg. state gas tax: 18.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $2.95 per gal. (4th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.4% (4th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 19,399 (2nd most)
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48. New Mexico
> Avg. state gas tax: 18.9 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.23 per gal. (24th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.8% (3rd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,227 (7th most)
Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
47. Arizona
> Avg. state gas tax: 19 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.59 per gal. (7th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.3% (2nd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,419 (21st fewest)
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46. Missouri
> Avg. state gas tax: 19.9 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $2.97 per gal. (5th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.7% (7th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,984 (3rd most)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
45. Texas
> Avg. state gas tax: 20 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $2.93 per gal. (the lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.8% (9th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,510 (15th most)
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44. Oklahoma
> Avg. state gas tax: 20 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $2.94 per gal. (3rd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.8% (8th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,628 (4th most)
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43. Louisiana
> Avg. state gas tax: 20 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.04 per gal. (11th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.6% (5th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,075 (17th most)
Source: milehightraveler / iStock via Getty Images
42. Colorado
> Avg. state gas tax: 22 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.30 per gal. (21st highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.7% (6th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,434 (17th fewest)
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41. North Dakota
> Avg. state gas tax: 23 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.12 per gal. (19th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.4% (13th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,425 (10th most)
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40. Delaware
> Avg. state gas tax: 23 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.21 per gal. (25th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.2% (10th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,083 (9th fewest)
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39. New Hampshire
> Avg. state gas tax: 23.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.26 per gal. (22nd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.3% (12th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,872 (6th fewest)
Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
38. Wyoming
> Avg. state gas tax: 24 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.31 per gal. (20th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.2% (11th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 23,167 (the most)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
37. Kansas
> Avg. state gas tax: 24 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $2.98 per gal. (6th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.1% (15th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,830 (24th fewest)
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36. Arkansas
> Avg. state gas tax: 24.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $2.94 per gal. (2nd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.4% (17th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,777 (9th most)
Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
35. Nebraska
> Avg. state gas tax: 25.7 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.11 per gal. (16th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.3% (16th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,394 (23rd most)
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34. Kentucky
> Avg. state gas tax: 26 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $2.98 per gal. (7th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.7% (18th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,233 (11th most)
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33. Massachusetts
> Avg. state gas tax: 26.5 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.37 per gal. (17th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.9% (14th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,733 (11th fewest)
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32. South Carolina
> Avg. state gas tax: 26.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.01 per gal. (9th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.9% (20th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,966 (19th most)
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31. Tennessee
> Avg. state gas tax: 27.4 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.02 per gal. (10th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.1% (21st lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,903 (21st most)
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30. South Dakota
> Avg. state gas tax: 30 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.15 per gal. (21st lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.5% (24th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,218 (12th most)
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29. Iowa
> Avg. state gas tax: 30 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.10 per gal. (15th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.7% (25th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,943 (25th fewest)
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28. Maine
> Avg. state gas tax: 30 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.41 per gal. (14th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.8% (19th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,343 (20th fewest)
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27. Minnesota
> Avg. state gas tax: 30.6 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.12 per gal. (19th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.8% (24th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,042 (13th most)
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26. Alabama
> Avg. state gas tax: 31.3 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $2.99 per gal. (8th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.5% (19th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,462 (6th most)
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25. Utah
> Avg. state gas tax: 31.9 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.42 per gal. (13th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.3% (23rd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,933 (20th most)
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24. Vermont
> Avg. state gas tax: 32.1 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.36 per gal. (18th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.6% (25th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,328 (10th fewest)
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23. Wisconsin
> Avg. state gas tax: 32.9 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.04 per gal. (12th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.8% (18th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,247 (25th most)
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22. Idaho
> Avg. state gas tax: 33 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.55 per gal. (8th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.3% (22nd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,440 (22nd most)
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21. Montana
> Avg. state gas tax: 33.3 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.39 per gal. (15th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.8% (23rd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,670 (14th most)
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20. Virginia
> Avg. state gas tax: 34.4 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.14 per gal. (20th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.9% (17th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,781 (23rd fewest)
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19. Rhode Island
> Avg. state gas tax: 35 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.36 per gal. (19th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.4% (20th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 8,716 (2nd fewest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
18. West Virginia
> Avg. state gas tax: 35.7 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.21 per gal. (24th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.1% (15th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,221 (16th most)
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17. Connecticut
> Avg. state gas tax: 35.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.49 per gal. (10th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.2% (21st highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,332 (16th fewest)
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16. Maryland
> Avg. state gas tax: 36.1 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.25 per gal. (23rd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.1% (16th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,165 (15th fewest)
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15. Georgia
> Avg. state gas tax: 37.6 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.11 per gal. (17th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.1% (13th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,809 (8th most)
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14. Ohio
> Avg. state gas tax: 38.5 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.09 per gal. (14th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.5% (12th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,726 (22nd fewest)
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13. North Carolina
> Avg. state gas tax: 38.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.09 per gal. (13th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.6% (10th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,997 (18th most)
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12. Oregon
> Avg. state gas tax: 38.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.92 per gal. (4th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.9% (22nd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,959 (13th fewest)
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11. Florida
> Avg. state gas tax: 43.5 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.22 per gal. (25th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.5% (8th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,315 (24th most)
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10. Michigan
> Avg. state gas tax: 45.2 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.16 per gal. (22nd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.3% (6th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,022 (18th fewest)
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9. New York
> Avg. state gas tax: 48.2 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.48 per gal. (11th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.8% (7th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 8,111 (the fewest)
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8. Washington
> Avg. state gas tax: 49.4 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.95 per gal. (3rd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 12.5% (11th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,269 (4th fewest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
7. Indiana
> Avg. state gas tax: 49.8 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.19 per gal. (23rd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 15.6% (3rd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,561 (5th most)
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6. Nevada
> Avg. state gas tax: 50.5 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.82 per gal. (5th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.2% (9th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,148 (19th fewest)
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5. New Jersey
> Avg. state gas tax: 50.7 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.38 per gal. (16th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 15% (4th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,957 (7th fewest)
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4. Hawaii
> Avg. state gas tax: 51.7 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $4.34 per gal. (2nd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.9% (14th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,083 (3rd fewest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
3. Pennsylvania
> Avg. state gas tax: 58.7 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.52 per gal. (9th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 16.7% (2nd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,648 (5th fewest)
Source: ghornephoto / iStock via Getty Images
2. Illinois
> Avg. state gas tax: 59.6 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $3.45 per gal. (12th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 17.3% (the highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,915 (12th fewest)
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1. California
> Avg. state gas tax: 68.2 cents per gal.
> Avg. gas price as of Jan. 14, 2022: $4.65 per gal. (the highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 14.6% (5th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,020 (14th fewest)
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