rhode Island Gas Tax Hike Hitting Drivers Hard This Summer – Here’s What It Costs You Per Tank
Attention, New England commuters and road-trippers: starting this month, every gallon of gasoline you pump in Rhode Island is costing you an extra 4 cents at the pump—and that’s on top of already sky-high prices. The Ocean State’s latest gas tax increase, quietly passed by lawmakers last year, officially kicks in as of July 1, raising the state’s tax to 38 cents per gallon. For a typical 15-gallon fill-up, that’s an extra 60 cents out of your wallet every single time you stop for gas. But the real sting? For the average driver filling up just once a week, that’s nearly $31 more in taxes over the summer months alone. Consumer advocates are sounding the alarm, calling this a “backdoor tax hike” on families already struggling with grocery and rent inflation. To make matters worse, Rhode Islanders are now paying one of the highest per-gallon taxes in New England—a burden that directly hits delivery drivers, gig workers, and anyone who depends on their car to get to work. Want to save a few bucks? Our pro tip: fill up just across the border in Massachusetts or Connecticut on your next errand run. But watch the clock—if you’re stuck in Bridgeport-style traffic, that savings might just vanish in lost time.