Washington's gas tax is going up, but state transportation revenue is falling short
Washington state’s gas tax, already among the highest in the nation, is going up next week.
The state’s per-gallon fuel tax of 55.4 cents will climb 1.1 cents on July 1. The 2% bump is the first of the annual inflationary adjustments required by a 2025 law. With the increase, Washington’s gas tax will be 56.5 cents, trailing only California and Pennsylvania, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration figures updated earlier this year.
The per-gallon tax on diesel will get a 2% boost, rising from 58.4 cents to 59.5 cents. The state taxes are on top of federal fuel taxes, which are 18.4 cents for gasoline and 24.4 cents for diesel.
Even with the changes, revenues for the state’s two-year transportation budget are expected to be millions of dollars lower than previously forecast as demand for gas declines, fee collections drop, and there is continuing uncertainty around how much federal transportation funding for states will be available.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/06/24/washingtons-gas-tax-is-going-up-but-state-transportation-revenue-is-falling-short/
People are likely driving more fuel-efficient cars or taking transit when it's practicable.