Statewide average updated daily • Source: AAA
California consistently ranks as one of the most expensive states for gasoline in the entire country, typically running between 80 cents and a full dollar above the national average. This is not a recent trend — California has held this distinction for decades due to a unique combination of the highest state gas tax in the nation, strict environmental fuel requirements, and a supply infrastructure that is largely isolated from the rest of the country.
The California state excise tax on gasoline exceeded 68 cents per gallon in 2026, the highest of any state in the country and more than seven times higher than Alaska’s 9 cent rate. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, California drivers pay over 85 cents in taxes before any other cost is factored in.
Beyond taxes, California requires a unique gasoline blend known as CARB fuel — formulated to meet the California Air Resources Board’s stricter emissions standards. This blend cannot be substituted with conventional fuel from other states, which means California’s supply pool is effectively limited to refineries specifically configured to produce it. When a California refinery goes offline for any reason, the state cannot easily import replacement supply from elsewhere, which is why California prices spike dramatically during refinery outages.
The state’s refinery infrastructure is also aging, and several facilities have reduced capacity or closed entirely in recent years, tightening the supply situation further. California imports a portion of its fuel by ship from foreign refineries capable of producing CARB-compliant fuel, which adds logistical cost compared to states supplied by domestic pipelines.
Did you know? California consumes more gasoline than any other state — roughly 40 million gallons per day — more than most entire countries use. The state gas tax is automatically adjusted for inflation each July 1 under a 2017 law, meaning it rises slightly every year regardless of market conditions. California also has over 30 million registered vehicles on its roads, nearly one vehicle for every person in the state.
Compare today’s average in California with nearby states to understand regional price differences.
Learn more about what drives gas prices across the United States.
Crude oil prices are the biggest driver of what you pay at the pump. For U.S. and global crude oil production data updated from EIA figures, see Oil Production Live.