Washington State Fuel Tax

[frankdamp]

Running larger vehicles might get a LOT more expensive here in Washington before long. We already have one of the highest fuel taxes in the nation and the pols in Olympia are pushing for another 11 cents increase, to be imposed in January.

There doesn't seem to be much political opposition.

[jnharley]

Still will not be as high as Indiana's diesel tax at $.75 per gallon. And don't be taken in by the advertised price of diesel fuel in Indiana. It is for exempt trucks only-the price for auto diesel is always much higher because the taxes are added.

[CA_Traveler]

Sept 2013 WA gas was about 19 cents less than CA and diesel was about 41 cents less than CA. This was from my observations and does not represent average state comparisons but rather just my observations.

You can view my Alaska trip log and on the right side of the graph are the WA, OR and CA prices along with other prices. Click here.

[pnichols]

All the above discussion is why I pay for all of our RV gas with a credit card that rebates me back about 17-18 cents per gallon everytime I cash in it's reward points. About once a year the total reward points turn out to be real money.

By the way, for several years ending this past Sept., we have traveled to WA at least twice a year. From what we saw, WA gas wasn't anywhere near 40 cents per gallon less than in CA. 15 cents per gallon, maybe, but not 40 cents per gallon. The additional gas tax in WA will bring it's fuel prices fairly close to CA fuel prices from what I can tell.

[Dick_A]

Me Again wrote:
Costco stores in Bellingham, Burlington, and Arlington all love their Canadian customers!!!! A!

Chris

I would like to think we, as neighbors of our canadian friends, welcome them regardless of the reason they visit us.

As a moderator of this forum for well over ten years, I have noticed a large percentage of our contributing members have been our Canadian friends just north of us.

One of many, but a very personal friend, is "Bob's Your Uncle" who personally delivered a +12 volt clock assembly to me many years ago and has continued to be a very valued forum member for many, many years. Additionally, his several stories have intertained all of us through the years. 🙂

[clikrf8]

Yep, no state income tax so the politicians have to make up a deficit. Also, we have to fuel the growth in the central Puget Sound area, namely Seattle and environs. just wondering, since Boeing may be pulling out due to Machinists nixing Boeing offers, is the 8 billion dollars in tax relief still on? i sure don't like subsidizing big business. Microsoft still gets tax breaks.

We live in Bellingham but don't shop any further north than we have to to. Nothing but traffic snarls around the big box stores north of town with Canadians buying fuel and groceries, especially milk, in large quantities. Our AG at one time did a study about why we in Whatcom County pay so much for fuel. His result? "Because we can afford it!" Huh??????

[Veebyes]

Nobody likes it but it is a fair way of collecting taxes. Pretty simple workings. If you have a small car, you don't use much gas therefore pay little tax. If you must have the big gas sucking engine then pay. Your choice.

At home, where gas is $9gal, I drive a gas sipping Toyota Yaris. Perfect for short hops close to home. Next time we are headed to WA with the fuel guzzling 3500 we will top off before entering the state & leave near empty buying as little as possible when in the state.

[RambleOnNW]

For cruising points east I look at do I fill up in Kennewick, WA, or Coeur D'Alene, ID. Currently the Idaho fill-up would be $0.16 cheaper per gallon for regular, looking at GasBuddy.

[Canadian_Rainbi]

frankdamp wrote:
Running larger vehicles might get a LOT more expensive here in Washington before long. We already have one of the highest fuel taxes in the nation and the pols in Olympia are pushing for another 11 cents increase, to be imposed in January.

There doesn't seem to be much political opposition.

Probably still be cheaper than in British Columbia.
:B

[Me_Again]

Costco stores in Bellingham, Burlington, and Arlington all love their Canadian customers!!!! A!

Chris

[Jarlaxle]

bob_nestor wrote:

mlts22 wrote:
Here in Texas, the fuel tax is low. However, where one gets slammed are toll roads. The only major Texas city that does not have them is San Antonio, since they had the guts to vote out people that kept demanding them.

Of course, the IH-35 truckers don't want to pay the tolls, so instead of taking a speed limit 85 road that is free and clear, they prefer to idle their engines in Austin traffic. It would be nice to have a discount on 18-wheelers just to get them out of the metro area.

The toll roads are a way of financing roads before they were planned to be built using general road funds. TX190 here in N. Texas is an example. The plan was that it would be built as a non-toll road sometime in the future, but the local communities wanted it built earlier to help with the growth in the area. The state floated a bond to finance the early construction and the toll is being used to pay it off. Time will tell if the toll every goes away, but it did on I-30 between Dallas and Ft. Worth many years ago when that hiway was paid off.

There is nothing more PERMANENT than a TEMPORARY toll!

[Pangaea_Ron]

mlts22 wrote:
I think it is pennywise, but pound foolish. Tourism is important in WA state, and both the Canadians and the people around may just find the high fuel prices an obstacle big enough for them to just stay near home and do their shopping.

I just saw a local news item about Canadians shopping in WA State. From memory: The numbers are up 4x since 2008. They save $.50 on a loaf of bread, $3.00 on a gallon of milk, and $1.30 on a gallon of gas. They'll keep coming, and Bellingham (near the border) has the highest gas prices in the state of WA.

[revump]

As I travel, I play close attention to fuel prices and plan my trip accordingly. I rarely fillup in CA. I don't travel much in WA or OR. I get there and I park.

[frankdamp]

To be honest, Seattle taxes for Metro Transit aren't part of the gasoline tax. They put that on the sales tax percentage and maybe as an add-on to vehicle taxes and maybe even an addition to property taxes. Since we don't live there, I can't be sure.

I think the gas tax increase is to pay for road and other infrastructure improvements. Goodness knows, the Seattle metropolitan area needs megabucks to solve its traffic woes. For those of us out in the dingle-weeds, their problems are none of ours, except the gas tax increase will affect us all. It may run us off the RV life-style - it's marginal already with the price of gas.

When I worked for Skagit Transit (75 miles north of metropolitan Seattle) we got the county taxpayers to approve a small increase in the sales tax to keep the system running. It's a very conservatively managed agency that provides useful service to the county, and works within its budget. The residents are favorably inclined.

[Me_Again]

tahiti16 wrote:
Oh and I don't think that chart includes sales tax that is charged on fuel here!

Wow never knew you California residents had to go inside and pay sales tax on your gas purchases. Us tourist just pay the per gallon combined federal and state tax that is included in the pump price and noted on the site I linked. Or is it that California is lacking in school/education spending?

Chris