Get Ready for Gas Taxes to Go Up in These 7 States
Unfortunately for drivers in some states, 2017 will bring higher gas taxes.
The gas tax hikes might not come as a surprise for motorists: In Pennsylvania, for instance, the rate will jump by 7.9 cents per gallon in accordance with a 2013 law. Gas tax increases could also save drivers money in the long run. In New Jersey, gas prices jumped by 23 cents this year due to a tax hike that will fund much-needed infrastructure repairs. AAA says that the damage done to vehicles by roadways costs more in repairs than hiking the price of fuel.
However, the increases come as overall costs at the pump rise. Though gas prices typically decline as the new year approaches, and travel volume dips, the national average for gas sits at $2.29 per gallon, according to AAA. That's 29 cents more than the national average at this time last year.
Here's a list of the states where gas taxes will increase:
Pennsylvania
The Keystone State already has the highest gas tax in the country. It will jump by 7.9 cents per gallon in the new year, to 58.3 cents per gallon.
Michigan
Michigan's gas tax will see the second-highest increase in the nation in 2017. The rate will rise 7.3 cents per gallon, to 37.8 cents per gallon.
Nebraska
Nebraska's gas tax rate will increase by 1.5 cents, as part of a four-part increase approved in 2015. In 2017, drivers will pay 29.2 cents per gallon in gas tax.
Georgia
The Peach State will see a modest gas-tax increase of less than a penny per gallon, in accordance with automatic adjustments. Gas taxes in the new year will be 31.3 cents per gallon.
North Carolina
North Carolina will also see an increase of less than a penny per gallon. New rates will be 35.6 cents per gallon.
Indiana
A modest increase in the gas tax will bump Indiana's rate to 30.1 cents per gallon.
Florida
In 2017, Florida's new gas tax rate will increase by less than a penny per gallon to 36.7 cents per gallon.
Luckily for drivers in New York and West Virginia, gas taxes will see a slight reduction based on automatic adjustments. Rates in the Empire State will fall 0.8 cents per gallon to 41.8 cents per gallon, while gas taxes in the Mountain State will drop 1 cent per gallon to 32.2 cents per gallon.