State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
Tennessee gas tax
The 33rd highest state gas tax of 51, and 6.4¢ below the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, Tennessee drivers pay 45.80¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 11% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 26.00¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 1.40¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 45.80¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $6.87 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $220 |
| Regular gas this week | $4.017 |
From the EIA’s notes for Tennessee: Special Privilege Tax: $0.0100/gal. Environmental Assurance fee: $0.0040/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 Tennessee and its neighbours
Across the line in Mississippi, state tax is 3.0¢ a gallon lower, which is $0.45 less tax on a 15-gallon fill.
| State | State tax | Versus TN | On a 15-gal tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 24.4¢ | −3.0¢ | −$0.45 |
| Arkansas | 25.0¢ | −2.4¢ | −$0.36 |
| Kentucky | 26.4¢ | −1.0¢ | −$0.15 |
| Tennessee | 27.4¢ | — | — |
| Missouri | 30.0¢ | +2.6¢ | +$0.39 |
| Alabama | 31.0¢ | +3.6¢ | +$0.54 |
| Georgia | 34.0¢ | +6.6¢ | +$1.00 |
| North Carolina | 41.3¢ | +13.9¢ | +$2.08 |
| Virginia | 42.4¢ | +15.0¢ | +$2.25 |
Where Tennessee sits in the ranking
| 31. South Carolina | 28.75¢ |
|---|---|
| 32. Massachusetts | 27.56¢ |
| 33. Tennessee | 27.40¢ |
| 34. Kentucky | 26.40¢ |
| 35. Kansas | 25.03¢ |
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 $183 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in Tennessee; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $289.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the Tennessee fuel cost calculator, or see Tennessee gas prices this week.
Tennessee gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in Tennessee?
- Tennessee charges 27.40¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 26.00¢ 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 45.80¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does Tennessee's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 33rd highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 6.4¢ a gallon below the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a Tennessee driver pay in a year?
- About $220 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $132 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $6.87 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 Tennessee?
- Mississippi has the lowest state gas tax of Tennessee's neighbours, at 24.40¢ a gallon. That is 3.0¢ less, or $0.45 on a 15-gallon fill.