How Much Does an Average Vehicle Owner Pay in Fuel Taxes Each Year?

According to the Federal Highway Administration, the average fuel economy for all light vehicles on the road today is 21.4 miles per gallon (mpg). A person owning a gasoline vehicle with that fuel efficiency pays between $137 and $296 in fuel taxes each year, depending upon the state in which the fuel is purchased. The Federal tax on gasoline is 18.4 cents per gallon, and each state has a gasoline tax ranging from 7.5 cents in Georgia to 37.5 cents in the state of Washington. Since taxes are based on a per-gallon rate, someone with a more efficient vehicle will pay less in taxes over the course of a year and someone with a less efficient vehicle will pay more.