State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
West Virginia gas tax
The 17th highest state gas tax of 51, and 1.9¢ above the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, West Virginia drivers pay 54.10¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 15% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 20.50¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 15.20¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 54.10¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $8.12 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $260 |
| Regular gas this week | $3.682 |
From the EIA’s notes for West Virginia: Excise tax $0.2050/gal, Consumers Sales and Service Tax: $0.1520/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 West Virginia and its neighbours
Across the line in Kentucky, state tax is 9.3¢ a gallon lower, which is $1.40 less tax on a 15-gallon fill.
| State | State tax | Versus WV | On a 15-gal tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 26.4¢ | −9.3¢ | −$1.40 |
| West Virginia | 35.7¢ | — | — |
| Ohio | 38.5¢ | +2.8¢ | +$0.42 |
| Virginia | 42.4¢ | +6.7¢ | +$1.00 |
| Maryland | 46.8¢ | +11.1¢ | +$1.67 |
| Pennsylvania | 58.7¢ | +23.0¢ | +$3.45 |
Where West Virginia sits in the ranking
| 15. Ohio | 38.50¢ |
|---|---|
| 16. Washington, D.C. | 35.70¢ |
| 17. West Virginia | 35.70¢ |
| 18. Georgia | 34.05¢ |
| 19. Montana | 33.75¢ |
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 $216 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in West Virginia; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $342.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the West Virginia fuel cost calculator, or see West Virginia gas prices this week.
West Virginia gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in West Virginia?
- West Virginia charges 35.70¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 20.50¢ of excise tax plus 15.20¢ 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 54.10¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does West Virginia's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 17th highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 1.9¢ a gallon above the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a West Virginia driver pay in a year?
- About $260 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $171 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $8.12 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 West Virginia?
- Kentucky has the lowest state gas tax of West Virginia's neighbours, at 26.40¢ a gallon. That is 9.3¢ less, or $1.40 on a 15-gallon fill.