What is Virginia's gas tax rate?

Virginia's state gasoline excise tax is about 29.8 cents per gallon as of 2024 and is indexed to inflation, so it adjusts annually. A small storage-tank fee of around 0.6 cents per gallon is added at the rack. The federal excise of 18.4 cents per gallon applies on top.

How much is the federal gas tax?

The federal gasoline excise tax is 18.4 cents per gallon (24.4 cents for diesel) and has been unchanged since 1993. It funds the Highway Trust Fund and applies nationwide in addition to each state's fuel tax.

Why does Virginia index its gas tax?

Virginia ties its fuel tax rate to the Consumer Price Index so revenue keeps pace with road-maintenance costs as inflation rises. Because of indexing, the per-gallon rate generally increases a little each July rather than staying fixed for decades.

Do electric vehicles pay Virginia gas tax?

Electric vehicles buy no gasoline, so they pay no fuel tax. Virginia instead charges EVs and many fuel-efficient vehicles an annual highway use fee at registration to help cover the road funding they would otherwise contribute through the gas tax.

How can I lower my gas tax cost?

Because the tax is per gallon, using less fuel lowers it directly: driving fewer miles, a higher-MPG or hybrid vehicle, or combining trips all reduce gallons burned. The per-gallon rate itself is set by law and is the same at every Virginia station.

Virginia Gas Tax Calculator

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Every gallon you buy in Virginia includes both a state and a federal fuel tax. This calculator shows how much of your fuel spending is tax — per fill-up or across a full year of driving — using Virginia’s roughly 29.8-cent state rate and the 18.4-cent federal rate.

How it works

Fuel tax is charged per gallon, so the tax equals gallons times the combined rate:

Gallons (year) = annual miles ÷ MPG
State tax      = gallons × $0.298
Federal tax    = gallons × $0.184
Total fuel tax = gallons × ($0.298 + $0.184) = gallons × $0.482

For a single fill-up you enter the gallons directly. For a yearly view you enter annual mileage and your vehicle’s MPG, and the tool converts miles to gallons first. Virginia’s rate is indexed and a small storage-tank fee applies, so your exact figure may vary by a fraction of a cent.

Example

A 14-gallon fill-up carries about 4.17 dollars of state tax and 2.58 dollars of federal tax — roughly 6.75 dollars of tax per tank. Driving 12,000 miles a year at 28 MPG burns about 429 gallons, or about 207 dollars in combined gas tax annually.

Notes

The combined rate here is about 48.2 cents per gallon and updates over time as Virginia indexes its rate each July. Diesel rates differ. Electric vehicles pay no gas tax but owe a highway use fee instead. Verify current rates at tax.virginia.gov.