
(The Center Square) – Virginia drivers are paying about $1.29 more for a gallon of regular gas than they were a year ago, while the state’s combined fuel taxes and fees also rose slightly this summer.
AAA listed Virginia’s average Monday at $4.22 per gallon for regular gasoline and $6.36 for diesel. A year ago, regular gas averaged $2.94 a gallon. Diesel averaged $3.60. Diesel remains close to Virginia’s record average of $6.39 per gallon, set Tuesday of last week, according to AAA.
Virginia’s motor fuels tax increased July 1 to 32.6 cents per gallon for gasoline and 33.6 cents for diesel. Both rates increased 0.9 cents from the previous year, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The state also charges distributors a separate fuel sales tax of 9.6 cents per gallon for gasoline and 9.7 cents for diesel. Both increased 0.3 cents July 1.
The storage tank fee, meanwhile, dropped from 0.6 cents to 0.2 cents per gallon.
Together, the three state charges now total 42.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 43.5 cents for diesel, up 0.8 cents from last year.
The state increase accounts for only a small part of the larger rise in pump prices.
Diesel supplies remain tight in the United States and overseas. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says domestic inventories fell below their five-year range as U.S. exports remained high and supplies from the Middle East, Russia and China declined.
EIA says low inventories are contributing to higher diesel prices.
Gasoline prices have also been pushed higher by crude oil prices and global supply disruptions, according to AAA.
The higher fuel prices come as federal officials temporarily relaxed driving-hour limits for truckers hauling gasoline and diesel. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued the waiver Sept. 16 because of fuel supply concerns. It remains in effect through Dec. 16.
This post was originally published on The Center Square.
















