How much is the gas tax in North Carolina?

North Carolina's motor fuel excise tax is about 40.65 cents per gallon, one of the higher state gas taxes in the Southeast. On top of that the federal government adds 18.4 cents per gallon, for a combined tax of roughly 59 cents on every gallon of gasoline.

Is the gas tax included in the pump price?

Yes. Both the North Carolina and federal excise taxes are already baked into the per-gallon price you see at the pump. You never pay them as a separate line item, which is why most drivers do not realize how much fuel tax they pay each year.

How is the North Carolina gas tax set?

North Carolina adjusts its motor fuel tax rate using a formula tied to population growth and an energy price index, so the rate changes over time rather than staying fixed. This calculator uses the current rate; check ncdor.gov for the latest figure.

How much gas tax do I pay per year?

It depends on your mileage and fuel economy. A driver covering 12,000 miles a year at 25 miles per gallon burns 480 gallons, paying about 195 dollars in combined North Carolina and federal gas tax. More miles or worse mileage means more tax.

Do electric vehicles pay gas tax in North Carolina?

No, EVs buy no gasoline and pay no gas tax. To make up the lost road funding, North Carolina charges electric vehicles an extra annual registration fee instead. So EV owners avoid the per-gallon tax but pay a flat highway-use fee at renewal.

North Carolina Gas Tax Calculator

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Every gallon you pump in North Carolina carries two hidden taxes: the state motor fuel excise tax and the federal excise tax. They are built into the pump price, so most drivers never see how much they add up to. This calculator makes the gas tax visible per fill-up or across a whole year.

How it works

Both taxes are flat amounts per gallon, not percentages, so the cost depends only on how many gallons you burn:

gallons (per year) = annual miles / miles per gallon
state tax = gallons * NC rate per gallon
federal tax = gallons * 18.4 cents
total = state tax + federal tax

In per-tank mode the tool uses your tank size directly as the number of gallons. In per-year mode it derives gallons from your mileage and fuel economy.

Example

A driver covering 12,000 miles a year at 25 miles per gallon burns 480 gallons. At about 40.65 cents of North Carolina tax that is roughly 195 dollars, plus about 88 dollars of federal tax, for around 283 dollars of fuel tax a year.

Notes

North Carolina adjusts its gas tax rate periodically using a statutory formula, so the exact rate changes. The federal rate has been 18.4 cents per gallon for many years. This tool ignores diesel, which is taxed differently, and any local fuel surcharges. Confirm the current rate at ncdor.gov.