State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
Rhode Island gas tax
The 11th highest state gas tax of 51, and 7.4¢ above the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, Rhode Island drivers pay 59.52¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 14% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 40.00¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 1.12¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 59.52¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $8.93 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $286 |
| Regular gas this week | $4.256 |
From the EIA’s notes for Rhode Island: Environmental Protection Regulatory fee (EPRF): $0.0100/gal. Uniform Oil Response and Prevention (UORF) fee: $0.0500/bbl ($0.0012/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 Rhode Island and its neighbours
Across the line in Connecticut, state tax is 16.1¢ a gallon lower, which is $2.42 less tax on a 15-gallon fill.
| State | State tax | Versus RI | On a 15-gal tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 25.0¢ | −16.1¢ | −$2.42 |
| Massachusetts | 27.6¢ | −13.6¢ | −$2.03 |
| Rhode Island | 41.1¢ | — | — |
Where Rhode Island sits in the ranking
| 9. Virginia | 42.40¢ |
|---|---|
| 10. North Carolina | 41.25¢ |
| 11. Rhode Island | 41.12¢ |
| 12. Florida | 40.10¢ |
| 13. Oregon | 40.00¢ |
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 $238 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in Rhode Island; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $376.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the Rhode Island fuel cost calculator, or see Rhode Island gas prices this week.
Rhode Island gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in Rhode Island?
- Rhode Island charges 41.12¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 40.00¢ of excise tax plus 1.12¢ 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 59.52¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does Rhode Island's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 11th highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 7.4¢ a gallon above the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a Rhode Island 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 $197 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $8.93 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 Rhode Island?
- Connecticut has the lowest state gas tax of Rhode Island's neighbours, at 25.00¢ a gallon. That is 16.1¢ less, or $2.42 on a 15-gallon fill.