State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
Virginia gas tax
The 9th highest state gas tax of 51, and 8.6¢ above the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, Virginia drivers pay 60.80¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 16% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 32.60¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 9.80¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 60.80¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $9.12 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $292 |
| Regular gas this week | $3.749 |
From the EIA’s notes for Virginia: Storage tank fee: $0.0020/gal. The Motor Vehicle Fuels Sales Tax (MVFST) (aka, Wholesale Sales Tax (WH)) rates: gasoline $0.0960/gal, diesel $0.
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 Virginia and its neighbours
Across the line in Kentucky, state tax is 16.0¢ a gallon lower, which is $2.40 less tax on a 15-gallon fill.
| State | State tax | Versus VA | On a 15-gal tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 26.4¢ | −16.0¢ | −$2.40 |
| Tennessee | 27.4¢ | −15.0¢ | −$2.25 |
| West Virginia | 35.7¢ | −6.7¢ | −$1.00 |
| Washington, D.C. | 35.7¢ | −6.7¢ | −$1.00 |
| North Carolina | 41.3¢ | −1.1¢ | −$0.17 |
| Virginia | 42.4¢ | — | — |
| Maryland | 46.8¢ | +4.4¢ | +$0.66 |
Where Virginia sits in the ranking
| 7. New Jersey | 49.15¢ |
|---|---|
| 8. Maryland | 46.81¢ |
| 9. Virginia | 42.40¢ |
| 10. North Carolina | 41.25¢ |
| 11. Rhode Island | 41.12¢ |
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 $243 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in Virginia; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $384.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the Virginia fuel cost calculator, or see Virginia gas prices this week.
Virginia gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in Virginia?
- Virginia charges 42.40¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 32.60¢ of excise tax plus 9.80¢ 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 60.80¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does Virginia's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 9th highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 8.6¢ a gallon above the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a Virginia driver pay in a year?
- About $292 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $204 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $9.12 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 Virginia?
- Kentucky has the lowest state gas tax of Virginia's neighbours, at 26.40¢ a gallon. That is 16.0¢ less, or $2.40 on a 15-gallon fill.