State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
Kentucky gas tax
The 34th highest state gas tax of 51, and 7.4¢ below the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, Kentucky drivers pay 44.80¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 11% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 25.00¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 1.40¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 44.80¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $6.72 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $215 |
| Regular gas this week | $4.007 |
From the EIA’s notes for Kentucky: Petroleum Storage Tank Environmental Assurance Fee: $0.0140/gal. Rates are calculated quarterly on the average wholesale price of fuel.
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 Kentucky and its neighbours
Kentucky has the lowest fuel tax of its neighbours. Drivers coming in from Illinois pay 45.3¢ a gallon less in state tax here, $6.80 on a 15-gallon fill.
| State | State tax | Versus KY | On a 15-gal tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 26.4¢ | — | — |
| Tennessee | 27.4¢ | +1.0¢ | +$0.15 |
| Missouri | 30.0¢ | +3.6¢ | +$0.54 |
| West Virginia | 35.7¢ | +9.3¢ | +$1.40 |
| Ohio | 38.5¢ | +12.1¢ | +$1.82 |
| Virginia | 42.4¢ | +16.0¢ | +$2.40 |
| Indiana | 64.5¢ | +38.1¢ | +$5.71 |
| Illinois | 71.7¢ | +45.3¢ | +$6.80 |
Where Kentucky sits in the ranking
| 32. Massachusetts | 27.56¢ |
|---|---|
| 33. Tennessee | 27.40¢ |
| 34. Kentucky | 26.40¢ |
| 35. Kansas | 25.03¢ |
| 36. Arkansas | 25.00¢ |
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 $179 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in Kentucky; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $283.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the Kentucky fuel cost calculator, or see Kentucky gas prices this week.
Kentucky gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in Kentucky?
- Kentucky charges 26.40¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 25.00¢ of excise tax plus 1.40¢ 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 44.80¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does Kentucky's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 34th highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 7.4¢ a gallon below the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a Kentucky driver pay in a year?
- About $215 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $127 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $6.72 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.