California gas prices
California consistently ranks as the most expensive state for gas in the country, and it's not by a little. Drivers here regularly pay $1.50 to $2.00 more per gallon than the national average. A few things drive that gap.
California uses a special reformulated gasoline blend that costs more to produce and can only be made by a handful of refineries in the state. When one of those refineries goes down for maintenance or has an unplanned outage, prices spike fast because there's no easy way to import fuel from other states to fill the gap.
The state also has the highest gas taxes in the country, adding roughly 70 cents per gallon to the federal tax. Add in stricter environmental regulations and higher labor costs, and you get the most expensive pump prices in the Lower 48, year after year.
Price history
Frequently asked questions
- Why is gas so expensive in California?
- A combination of state-specific fuel blend requirements, limited refinery capacity, high state taxes (about 70 cents per gallon), and stricter environmental regulations all push prices up. California can't easily import fuel from other states when local refineries have issues, which makes prices extra volatile.
- When is gas cheapest in California?
- Historically, prices tend to dip in late fall and winter, usually November through February, when demand drops, and refineries switch to cheaper winter blend fuel. Summer driving season and the spring switchover to summer blend typically push prices back up.
- How does California's gas tax compare to other states?
- California has the highest state gas tax in the country at around 70 cents per gallon. The national average state tax is about 33 cents. That gap alone accounts for a significant portion of why California gas costs more than most other states.