Kentucky
26.4¢/gal
State total · rank #33
- Excise
- 25¢/gal
- Other fees
- 1.4¢/gal
- + Federal
- 44.9¢/gal
- Annual state tax
- $126.72
Compare different states
Jan. 1 2026
Jan. 1 2026Kentucky vs California Gas Tax
Kentucky has the lower state tax by 44.52¢/gal. Compare excise, fees, combined federal + state rates, and annual tax at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Lower state gasoline tax
Kentucky is lower
44.52¢/gal lower per gallon—about $213.70 less state tax per year at 12,000 mi / 25 MPG.
Side-by-side gasoline tax scoreboard
California
70.92¢/gal
State total · rank #1
- Excise
- 61.2¢/gal
- Other fees
- 9.72¢/gal
- + Federal
- 89.42¢/gal
- Annual state tax
- $340.42
Annual state gasoline tax comparison
State tax only at different mileage assumptions (25 MPG unless noted). Federal tax is identical in both states (18.5¢/gal).
12,000 mi · 25 MPG
Kentucky$126.72
California$340.42
Gap: $213.70
15,000 mi · 25 MPG
Kentucky$158.40
California$425.52
Gap: $267.12
12,000 mi · 30 MPG
Kentucky$105.60
California$283.68
Gap: $178.08
12,000 mi · 20 MPG
Kentucky$158.40
California$425.52
Gap: $267.12
Key takeaways — Kentucky vs California gas tax
- Kentucky has the lower state gas tax by 44.52¢/gal (26.4¢/gal vs 70.92¢/gal).
- Kentucky ranks #33 nationally; California ranks #1 (#1 = highest state tax).
- Combined with federal 18.5¢/gal: Kentucky 44.9¢/gal, California 89.42¢/gal.
- At 12,000 mi / 25 MPG, state tax is about $126.72 in Kentucky vs $340.42 in California—a gap of $213.70.
- Kentucky splits as 25¢/gal excise + 1.4¢/gal fees; California is 61.2¢/gal + 9.72¢/gal.
- Local fuel taxes and CA/OR/WA LCFS or cap-and-trade costs may not appear in these statewide totals.
Tax on a fill-up — Kentucky vs California
State gasoline tax only (already in the pump price). Federal tax is the same in both states.
10-gallon fill-up
Kentucky$2.64
California$7.09
Gap: $4.45
15-gallon fill-up
Kentucky$3.96
California$10.64
Gap: $6.68
20-gallon fill-up
Kentucky$5.28
California$14.18
Gap: $8.90
Annual state gas tax ladder
Same miles and MPG on both sides. Gap is absolute state-tax difference.
| Scenario | Kentucky | California | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical commute12,000 mi · 25 MPG | $126.72 | $340.42 | $213.70 |
| Higher mileage15,000 mi · 25 MPG | $158.40 | $425.52 | $267.12 |
| 30 MPG vehicle12,000 mi · 30 MPG | $105.60 | $283.68 | $178.08 |
| 20 MPG vehicle12,000 mi · 20 MPG | $158.40 | $425.52 | $267.12 |
| 20k miles · 25 MPG20,000 mi · 25 MPG | $211.20 | $567.36 | $356.16 |
How to read this page
Kentucky vs California gas tax in 2026
Drivers comparing Kentucky and California often ask which state takes more at the pump in fuel tax. This page lines up Tax Foundation 2026 statewide gasoline totals—excise plus other per-gallon fees—then adds the same federal 18.5¢/gal to both sides.
Kentucky wins on state gasoline tax by 44.52¢/gal per gallon. Over a typical 12,000-mile year at 25 MPG, that is about $213.70 less state fuel tax than California.
Open each state profile for fill-up examples and neighbor tables, or use the pair picker to swap states.
How Kentucky and California build their gasoline tax
Kentucky's 26.4¢/gal total is 25¢/gal excise and 1.4¢/gal other fees (rank #33). California's 70.92¢/gal is 61.2¢/gal excise and 9.72¢/gal fees (rank #1).
Federal tax does not change the winner: both states add 18.5¢/gal, so the combined gap equals the state gap (44.52¢/gal combined).
“Other fees” can include environmental, inspection, or storage charges. Percentage-based sales or gross-earnings taxes on fuel may still understate retail tax in some states.
Annual cost: Kentucky vs California
State fuel tax ≈ (miles ÷ MPG) × (¢/gal ÷ 100). At 12,000 miles and 25 MPG (480 gallons), Kentucky is about $126.72 and California about $340.42 in state tax alone.
Raise mileage or lower MPG and the dollar gap scales linearly. The ladder on this page shows 12k/15k miles and 20/30 MPG scenarios so you can match your commute.
Federal tax on those same gallons is about $88.80 in either state—useful for total tax budgeting, but irrelevant to which state wins the comparison.
When Kentucky vs California gas tax matters
Relocation, remote-work base choice, and long cross-border commutes are the main reasons to compare these two rates. A few cents per gallon compounds quickly for high-mileage drivers and fleets.
Pump price is still mostly crude, refining, and distribution. A lower gas tax state can post a higher street price if wholesale markets are tight.
For business mileage, the IRS standard mileage rate or actual expenses already embed fuel tax—there is no separate personal gas-tax deduction for commuting.
Who this Kentucky vs California comparison helps
Useful if…
- •Drivers choosing between living or working in Kentucky vs California.
- •Commuters who regularly fill up on either side of a state line.
- •Fleet and rideshare operators budgeting per-mile fuel tax.
- •Anyone estimating how much of the pump price is tax in each state.
Use official tools if…
- •You need IFTA, dyed diesel, or refund compliance guidance.
- •City or county fuel taxes dominate your usual stations.
- •You primarily buy diesel or alternative fuels.
- •You need a live retail price quote rather than statutory tax components.
Kentucky vs California checklist
Before treating the rate gap as a relocation or fleet decision.
- 1Confirm Kentucky 26.4¢/gal vs California 70.92¢/gal.
- 2Add federal 18.5¢/gal if you want total tax per gallon, not just the state gap.
- 3Plug in your miles and MPG to size the annual dollar difference.
- 4Check local fuel taxes and environmental program costs where you actually fill up.
- 5Open the Kentucky and California profiles for neighbor and fill-up detail.
- 6Revisit after January 1 / July 1 if either state reindexes its excise.
Rates shown as 26.4¢/gal (KY) vs 70.92¢/gal (CA).
What the rate gap means
At default driving, Kentucky saves about $213.70 per year in state gasoline tax versus California.
Limits of statewide totals
County and city fuel taxes, diesel schedules, and environmental program costs (especially CA, OR, WA) may not appear in these Tax Foundation gasoline totals.
Kentucky vs California gas tax FAQs
Kentucky has the lower state tax by 44.52¢/gal. Kentucky totals 26.4¢/gal and California totals 70.92¢/gal before the federal 18.5¢/gal.
At 12,000 miles and 25 MPG, Kentucky is about $126.72 and California about $340.42—a gap of $213.70 in state tax alone.
Kentucky: 44.9¢/gal combined. California: 89.42¢/gal combined. Federal gasoline tax is 18.5¢/gal nationwide.
No. County, city, and special-district fuel taxes are excluded. California, Oregon, and Washington table rates also omit cap-and-trade and LCFS-related costs that can appear at the pump.
This comparison uses Tax Foundation gasoline totals. Federal diesel tax is 24.5¢/gal (24.4¢ excise + 0.1¢ LUST). Several states apply different diesel excise or fee schedules.
Kentucky has the lower state gasoline tax, saving about $213.70 per year at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG—before federal tax and pump-price differences.
About $3.96 in Kentucky vs $10.64 in California for state tax—a $6.68 gap per fill-up.
No. Federal gasoline tax is 18.5¢/gal in both states, so the ranking by state total is the same as the ranking by combined federal + state tax.
Kentucky remains lower. At 20,000 miles and 25 MPG the state-tax gap is about $356.16.
Open the Kentucky profile (/gas-tax-by-state/kentucky) and California profile (/gas-tax-by-state/california) for excise/fee breakdowns, neighbor tables, and fill-up examples.
Compare another pair
Compare any two states
State gasoline tax rates with annual driving-cost estimates.
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Estimates use Tax Foundation statewide gasoline totals as of January 1, 2026. Local fuel taxes and diesel rates may differ.