State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
North Carolina gas tax
The 10th highest state gas tax of 51, and 7.5¢ above the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, North Carolina drivers pay 59.65¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 16% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 41.00¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 0.25¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 59.65¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $8.95 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $286 |
| Regular gas this week | $3.737 |
From the EIA’s notes for North Carolina: Gasoline and Oil Inspection fee: $0.0025/gal on all motor fuels.
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 North Carolina and its neighbours
Across the line in Tennessee, state tax is 13.9¢ a gallon lower, which is $2.08 less tax on a 15-gallon fill.
| State | State tax | Versus NC | On a 15-gal tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 27.4¢ | −13.9¢ | −$2.08 |
| South Carolina | 28.8¢ | −12.5¢ | −$1.88 |
| Georgia | 34.0¢ | −7.2¢ | −$1.08 |
| North Carolina | 41.3¢ | — | — |
| Virginia | 42.4¢ | +1.1¢ | +$0.17 |
Where North Carolina sits in the ranking
| 8. Maryland | 46.81¢ |
|---|---|
| 9. Virginia | 42.40¢ |
| 10. North Carolina | 41.25¢ |
| 11. Rhode Island | 41.12¢ |
| 12. Florida | 40.10¢ |
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 $239 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in North Carolina; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $377.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the North Carolina fuel cost calculator, or see North Carolina gas prices this week.
North Carolina gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in North Carolina?
- North Carolina charges 41.25¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 41.00¢ of excise tax plus 0.25¢ 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 59.65¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does North Carolina's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 10th highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 7.5¢ a gallon above the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a North Carolina driver pay in a year?
- About $286 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $198 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $8.95 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 North Carolina?
- Tennessee has the lowest state gas tax of North Carolina's neighbours, at 27.40¢ a gallon. That is 13.9¢ less, or $2.08 on a 15-gallon fill.