If you've driven in California and pulled into a gas station to fill the tank, you know the Golden State's gasoline market exists in some realm parallel to but separate from the rest of the country, with fuel priced as if the place was the setting for a Mad Max movie (OK, some parts sort of are). As I write, the average price for gasoline in the U.S. is $3.17 per gallon, but Californians are somehow paying $4.53. Given the state just raised fuel tax rates, those prices aren't going down any time soon. In fact, Californians can blame state officials overall for the high cost of filling a car.
Highest Gasoline Tax in the Country
"Californians pay an additional 72.4 cents per gallon at the pump attributable to state and local taxes and fees, which is the highest in the nation," according to the California Tax Foundation. "California's state excise on gasoline is 57.9 cents per gallon (as of July 1, 2023)."
