Quality of Life

California vs Texas: Gas Tax

Texas has a lower state gas tax than California.

California flag
California
CA · West
54.00 c/gal
State gasoline excise tax in cents per gallon. Lower = lower state fuel tax burden.
Texas flag
Texas
TX · South
Winner
20.00 c/gal
State gasoline excise tax in cents per gallon. Lower = lower state fuel tax burden.

Visual comparison

California54.00 c/gal
Texas20.00 c/gal

Difference: 34.00 c/gal — Texas leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for gas tax.

California #49 · 54.00 c/gal
Texas #9 · 20.00 c/gal
Best Worst

10 Best States — Gas Tax

Lower is better
#1 Alaska flag Alaska
8.95 c/gal
#2 Vermont flag Vermont
12.10 c/gal
#3 Hawaii flag Hawaii
16.00 c/gal
#4 New Mexico flag New Mexico
17.00 c/gal
#5 Arizona flag Arizona
18.00 c/gal
#6 Mississippi flag Mississippi
18.79 c/gal
#7 Oklahoma flag Oklahoma
19.00 c/gal
#8 Louisiana flag Louisiana
20.00 c/gal
#9 Texas flag Texas
20.00 c/gal
#10 Colorado flag Colorado
22.00 c/gal
Selected states
#49 California flag California
54.00 c/gal

California ranks 49th and Texas ranks 9th nationally for gas tax.

What this means

California vs Texas: Gas Tax in context

Texas's gas tax is 20.00 c/gal, compared with 54.00 c/gal in California. State gasoline excise tax in cents per gallon. Lower = lower state fuel tax burden.

California
54.00 c/gal
Texas
20.00 c/gal
Difference
34.00 c/gal

People also ask

California vs Texas Gas Tax — common questions

QWhat is California's gas tax?

California's gas tax is 54.00 c/gal.

QWhat is Texas's gas tax?

Texas's gas tax is 20.00 c/gal.

QWhich state has a lower gas tax — California or Texas?

Texas has a lower state gas tax than California.

More comparisons: California vs Texas

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Full comparison

Data source and freshness

Data period
2026 incorporated table
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
State gasoline excise tax in cents per gallon; local and environmental fees may differ.