- Driving in North Carolina costs an estimated $2,006 per year in fuel, ranking #10 among all states.
- The average driver in North Carolina travels 12,549 miles per year, 1,222 miles above the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $3.788/gal (EIA Lower Atlantic PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 58.8 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in North Carolina would pay roughly $536/year for electricity, saving about 73% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (23.7 MPG on-road fleet avg) | $2,006 | $1,949 |
| Regular gas price | $3.788/gal | $4.079/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 58.8¢/gal | n/a |
| Miles driven per capita | 12,549 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 14.1¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #10 of 51 | n/a |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in North Carolina averages $3.788 per gallon (EIA Lower Atlantic PADD regional average), which is $0.29 below the national average of $4.079. North Carolina ranks #40 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive; tied with 4 other states).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 Gas Taxes
North Carolina charges a state gasoline excise tax of 40.4 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in North Carolina pay a total of 58.8 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #7 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2024, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 12,549 miles per year and 23.7 MPG (on-road fleet average), the average driver in North Carolina pays roughly $311 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 40.4¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 58.8¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 12,549 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $311 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in North Carolina travels 12,549 miles per year, ranking #10 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 1,222 miles above the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024North Carolina has a total of 131.0 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 10,439,388 (67% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on North Carolina'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 | $1,686 |
| Midsize SUV | 19.6 | $2,425 |
| Pickup truck | 18.3 | $2,598 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in North Carolina takes 25.3 minutes one way. About 71.3% of workers drive alone to work and 16.1% 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 | 25.3 min |
| Drove alone to work | 71.3% |
| Public transit | 0.6% |
| Worked from home | 16.1% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in North Carolina is 14.1 cents per kWh, which ranks #34 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in North Carolina costs roughly $0.043 per mile compared to $0.160 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 | $0.160 | $0.043 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (12,549 mi) | $2,006 | $536 |
| Annual savings with EV | $1,470 (73%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how North Carolina's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $3.788 | 12,549 | $2,006 |
| Virginia | $3.788 | 10,255 | $1,639 |
| Tennessee | $3.929 | 11,417 | $1,893 |
| Georgia | $3.788 | 11,409 | $1,824 |
| South Carolina | $3.788 | 12,121 | $1,937 |
09 Toll Roads
North Carolina has toll facilities (bridges, roads, tunnels, or ferries) in operation, according to the Federal Highway Administration's July 2023 report on toll facilities in the United States, one of 39 states with at least one toll facility.
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