- Driving in District of Columbia costs an estimated $585 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 $2.962/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 $276/year for electricity, saving about 53% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (26 MPG fleet avg) | $585 | $1,280 |
| Regular gas price | $2.962/gal | $2.937/gal |
| Combined gas tax (DC + federal) | 41.9¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 5,133 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 17.7¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #51 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in District of Columbia averages $2.962 per gallon (EIA Central Atlantic PADD regional average), which is $0.03 above the national average of $2.937. District of Columbia ranks #9 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, February 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 #40 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 5,133 miles per year and 26 MPG, the average driver in District of Columbia pays roughly $83 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, 26 MPG) | $83 |
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 | 33 | $461 |
| Midsize SUV | 26 | $585 |
| Pickup truck | 20 | $760 |
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 $0.114 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 | $0.114 | $0.054 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (5,133 mi) | $585 | $276 |
| Annual savings with EV | $309 (53%) | |
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 | $2.962 | 5,133 | $585 |
| Maryland | $2.962 | 9,235 | $1,052 |
| Virginia | $2.748 | 10,255 | $1,084 |
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, February 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: Automotive Trends Report, 2023. epa.gov