In July 2022, the state of South Carolina raised its gas tax rate to $0.28 per gallon. This was a two-cent increase compared to the previous fiscal year.

Did you know that every time you purchase a gallon of fuel at your local gas station, you pay several federal, state, and local taxes included in the price? The bulk of revenue from these gas taxes pays for infrastructure projects such as building, repairing, and upgrading roads and public transit.

Federal gas tax rates are consistent nationwide, but state tax rates vary significantly. Here with all of the details regarding South Carolina’s gas tax rate is

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How much is the South Carolina gas tax?

In July 2022, the state of South Carolina raised its gas tax rates by two cents, bringing it to the current rate of $0.28 per gallon.

If you’ve lived in SC for quite a while, this increase was likely unsurprising. In fact, the Palmetto State’s gas tax has increased by 2 cents each year since 2017, when it was first established. The money collected from the tax is put into the infrastructure maintenance fund that is used to fund road repair and maintenance projects.

This tax is in addition to the federal motor fuel excise tax of $0.18.4 per gallon, which the IRS collects to support the Federal Highway Administration. Local counties throughout South Carolina are also able to assign their own gas taxes, and the exact rate varies throughout the state.

Is gas tax relief on the way in South Carolina?

Due to rising gas prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as supply and demand fluctuations during the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joe Biden called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax for three months from June through August 2022, to keep prices more affordable.

Many U.S. states met this request by lowering or pausing their own gas taxes. Unfortunately, South Carolina did not participate. The planned 2-cent gas tax raise still went into effect on July 1st, 2022.

The tax rate could be reevaluated for future years, but if the past years trends are any indication, a decrease is highly unlikely.

MORE: What do the gas octane ratings actually mean?

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How high are gas prices in South Carolina?

According to AAA, a gallon of regular unleaded gas currently costs an average of $3.359 per gallon in South Carolina as of October 2022. This is compared to the national average of $3.910 per gallon of regular unleaded fuel.

The average price for higher grades of fuel in South Carolina will be slightly higher:

Mid-grade: $3.721/gal

Premium: $4.077/gal

Diesel: $4.759/gal

Gas prices have remained relatively consistent throughout the last few weeks. A week ago, the average price for a regular unleaded gallon of gas was $3.264, and a month ago it was $3.358. A year ago, however, prices were considerably lower, at an average of $3.013 per gallon.

Prices also vary from county to county. Greenwood County has some of the cheapest gas with an average price of $3.226 per gallon, while more expensive areas like Edgefield see average prices as high as $3.574 per gallon.

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Which state has the highest gas tax?

Despite the steady increase, South Carolina’s gas tax rates are actually not that high—at least when compared to other states. Take a look at the gas tax rate for each U.S. state as of September 2022:

State	Gas tax
Alabama	$0.28 per gallon
Alaska	$0.0895 per gallon
Arizona	$0.18 per gallon
Arkansas	$0.245 per gallon
California	$0.539 per gallon
Colorado	$0.22 per gallon
Connecticut	$0.0 per gallon
Delaware	$0.23 per gallon
District of Columbia	$0.235 per gallon
Florida	$0.334 per gallon
Georgia	$0.0 per gallon
Hawaii	$0.16 per gallon
Idaho	$0.32 per gallon
Illinois	$0.392 per gallon
Indiana	$0.33 per gallon
Iowa	$0.24 to $0.305 per gallon
Kansas	$0.240 per gallon
Kentucky	$0.246 per gallon
Louisiana	$0.20 per gallon
Maine	$0.30 per gallon
Maryland	$0.427 per gallon
Massachusetts	$0.24 per gallon
Michigan	$0.272 per gallon
Minnesota	$0.285 per gallon
Mississippi	$0.18 per gallon
Missouri	$0.22 per gallon
Montana	$0.33 per gallon
Nebraska	$0.248 per gallon
Nevada	$0.23 per gallon
New Hampshire	$0.222 per gallon
New Jersey	$0.421 per gallon
New Mexico	$0.17 per gallon
New York	$0.1735 per gallon
North Carolina	$0.385 per gallon
North Dakota	$0.230 per gallon
Ohio	$0.385 per gallon
Oklahoma	$0.19 per gallon
Oregon	$0.38 per gallon
Pennsylvania	$0.576 per gallon
Rhode Island	$0.34 per gallon
South Carolina	$0.28 per gallon
South Dakota	$0.28 per gallon
Tennessee	$0.26 per gallon
Texas	$0.20 per gallon
Utah	$0.319 per gallon
Vermont	$0.316 per gallon
Virginia	$0.28 per gallon
Washington	$0.494 per gallon
West Virginia	$0.357 per gallon
Wisconsin	$0.309 per gallon
Wyoming	$0.24 per gallon

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How to save on fuel and insurance costs in South Carolina

You can save on gas by looking for alternate transportation, practicing safe driving, gently pressing the accelerator, and keeping up with

a regular maintenance schedule

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