State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
California gas tax
The highest state gas tax of 51, and 39.9¢ above the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, California drivers pay 92.04¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 16% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 63.40¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 10.24¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 92.04¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $13.81 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $442 |
| Regular gas this week | $5.748 |
From the EIA’s notes for California: 2.25% state sales tax on gasoline, 13.00% state sales tax on diesel (prepaid rates for these sales taxes: gasoline $0.0800/gal; diesel $0.4250/gal).
Source: EIA federal and state motor fuel taxes, July 2026. The federal rate has not changed since 1993. County and city taxes are not included, so some drivers pay a little more.
Fuel tax in California and its neighbours
Across the line in Arizona, state tax is 54.6¢ a gallon lower, which is $8.20 less tax on a 15-gallon fill.
Where California sits in the ranking
| 1. California | 73.64¢ |
|---|---|
| 2. Illinois | 71.70¢ |
| 3. Indiana | 64.50¢ |
Ranked by total state tax per gallon, highest first. See all 51 ranked.
What this means for your driving
Tax is a fixed number of cents on every gallon, so the less fuel you burn, the less of it you pay. A car that gets 30 mpg pays $368 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in California; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $581.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the California fuel cost calculator, or see California gas prices this week.
California gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in California?
- California charges 73.64¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 63.40¢ of excise tax plus 10.24¢ in other per-gallon taxes and fees, according to the EIA's table updated July 2026. Add the 18.4¢ federal tax and drivers pay 92.04¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does California's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 39.9¢ a gallon above the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a California driver pay in a year?
- About $442 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $353 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $13.81 of tax.
- Is gas tax included in the price at the pump?
- Yes. Federal and state per-gallon fuel taxes are built into the price posted on the sign; they are not added at the register. That is why tax differences between neighbouring states show up directly in pump prices.
- Which neighbouring state has a lower gas tax than California?
- Arizona has the lowest state gas tax of California's neighbours, at 19.00¢ a gallon. That is 54.6¢ less, or $8.20 on a 15-gallon fill.