- Driving in Delaware costs an estimated $1,753 per year in fuel, ranking #31 among all states.
- The average driver in Delaware travels 10,037 miles per year, 1,290 miles below the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $4.139/gal (EIA Central Atlantic PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 41.4 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in Delaware would pay roughly $505/year for electricity, saving about 71% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (23.7 MPG on-road fleet avg) | $1,753 | $1,949 |
| Regular gas price | $4.139/gal | $4.079/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 41.4¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 10,037 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 16.6¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #31 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in Delaware averages $4.139 per gallon (EIA Central Atlantic PADD regional average), which is $0.06 above the national average of $4.079. Delaware ranks #8 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 Gas Taxes
Delaware charges a state gasoline excise tax of 23.0 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in Delaware pay a total of 41.4 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #41 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 10,037 miles per year and 23.7 MPG (on-road fleet average), the average driver in Delaware pays roughly $175 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 23.0¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 41.4¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 10,037 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $175 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in Delaware travels 10,037 miles per year, ranking #31 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 1,290 miles below the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024Delaware has a total of 9.9 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 989,948 (83% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on Delaware's average gas price and miles driven, here is the estimated annual fuel cost by vehicle type:
| Vehicle Type | MPG | Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Compact sedan | 28.2 | $1,473 |
| Midsize SUV | 19.6 | $2,120 |
| Pickup truck | 18.3 | $2,270 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in Delaware takes 26.8 minutes one way. About 72.1% of workers drive alone to work, while 2.3% use public transit and 13.6% work from home.
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023| Commute Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Mean travel time to work | 26.8 min |
| Drove alone to work | 72.1% |
| Public transit | 2.3% |
| Worked from home | 13.6% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in Delaware is 16.6 cents per kWh, which ranks #17 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in Delaware costs roughly $0.050 per mile compared to $0.175 per mile for gasoline.
EIA Form 861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024; EPA average EV efficiency ~3.3 mi/kWh| Metric | Gasoline | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.175 | $0.050 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (10,037 mi) | $1,753 | $505 |
| Annual savings with EV | $1,248 (71%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how Delaware's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $4.139 | 10,037 | $1,753 |
| Maryland | $4.139 | 9,235 | $1,613 |
| Pennsylvania | $4.139 | 7,321 | $1,279 |
| New Jersey | $4.139 | 8,554 | $1,494 |
09 Data Sources
- Federal Highway Administration: Table PS-1, Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024. fhwa.dot.gov
- Federal Highway Administration: Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax Rates. fhwa.dot.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices by State/Region, August 2026. eia.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Form EIA-861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024. eia.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023. data.census.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / Department of Energy: Fuel Economy Guide database, model years 2024–2025 (vehicle-type MPG); The 2025 Automotive Trends Report, EPA-420-R-26-001 (fleet trends). epa.gov
- DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 40, Table 4.3: on-road fuel economy of the light-duty vehicle fleet, 23.7 MPG (2020, the most recent year published). tedb.ornl.gov