State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
South Carolina gas tax
The 31st highest state gas tax of 51, and 5.0¢ below the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, South Carolina drivers pay 47.15¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 13% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 28.00¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 0.75¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 47.15¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $7.07 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $226 |
| Regular gas this week | $3.612 |
From the EIA’s notes for South Carolina: Inspection Fee: $0.0025/gal; Environmental Impact Fee: $0.0050/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 South Carolina and its neighbours
South Carolina has the lowest fuel tax of its neighbours. Drivers coming in from North Carolina pay 12.5¢ a gallon less in state tax here, $1.88 on a 15-gallon fill.
| State | State tax | Versus SC | On a 15-gal tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 28.8¢ | — | — |
| Georgia | 34.0¢ | +5.3¢ | +$0.79 |
| North Carolina | 41.3¢ | +12.5¢ | +$1.88 |
Where South Carolina sits in the ranking
| 29. South Dakota | 30.00¢ |
|---|---|
| 30. Missouri | 29.99¢ |
| 31. South Carolina | 28.75¢ |
| 32. Massachusetts | 27.56¢ |
| 33. Tennessee | 27.40¢ |
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 $189 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in South Carolina; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $298.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the South Carolina fuel cost calculator, or see South Carolina gas prices this week.
South Carolina gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in South Carolina?
- South Carolina charges 28.75¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 28.00¢ of excise tax plus 0.75¢ 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 47.15¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does South Carolina's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 31st highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 5.0¢ a gallon below the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a South Carolina driver pay in a year?
- About $226 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $138 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $7.07 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.