- Driving in District of Columbia costs an estimated $896 per year in fuel, ranking #51 among all states.
- The average driver in District of Columbia travels 5,133 miles per year, 6,194 miles below the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $4.139/gal (EIA Central Atlantic PADD regional average), with a combined DC and federal gas tax of 41.9 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in District of Columbia would pay roughly $275/year for electricity, saving about 69% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (23.7 MPG on-road fleet avg) | $896 | $1,949 |
| Regular gas price | $4.139/gal | $4.079/gal |
| Combined gas tax (DC + federal) | 41.9¢/gal | n/a |
| Miles driven per capita | 5,133 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 17.7¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #51 of 51 | n/a |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in District of Columbia averages $4.139 per gallon (EIA Central Atlantic PADD regional average), which is $0.06 above the national average of $4.079. District of Columbia ranks #8 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive; tied with 8 other states).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 Gas Taxes
The District charges a gasoline excise tax of 23.5 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in District of Columbia pay a total of 41.9 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #36 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2024, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 5,133 miles per year and 23.7 MPG (on-road fleet average), the average driver in District of Columbia pays roughly $91 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| DC gasoline tax | 23.5¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 41.9¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 5,133 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $91 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in District of Columbia travels 5,133 miles per year, ranking #51 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 6,194 miles below the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024District of Columbia has a total of 3.5 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 689,545 (100% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on District of Columbia'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 | $753 |
| Midsize SUV | 19.6 | $1,084 |
| Pickup truck | 18.3 | $1,161 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in District of Columbia takes 30.4 minutes one way. About 28.6% of workers drive alone to work, while 22.9% use public transit and 27.3% 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 | 30.4 min |
| Drove alone to work | 28.6% |
| Public transit | 22.9% |
| Worked from home | 27.3% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in District of Columbia is 17.7 cents per kWh, which ranks #15 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in District of Columbia costs roughly $0.054 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 | $0.054 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (5,133 mi) | $896 | $275 |
| Annual savings with EV | $621 (69%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how District of Columbia's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $4.139 | 5,133 | $896 |
| Maryland | $4.139 | 9,235 | $1,613 |
| Virginia | $3.788 | 10,255 | $1,639 |
09 Toll Roads
The District of Columbia has no toll roads, bridges, or tunnels in operation, according to the Federal Highway Administration's July 2023 report.
Federal Highway Administration, Toll Facilities in the United States, July 2023, Table T-1.10 Data Sources
- Federal Highway Administration: Table PS-1, Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024. fhwa.dot.gov
- Federal Highway Administration: Highway Statistics 2024, 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
- Federal Highway Administration: Toll Facilities in the United States, July 2023, Table T-1. fhwa.dot.gov