Washington Gas Tax Rises to 56.5 Cents Per Gallon Wednesday Under Annual Inflation Adjustment

State Senator Marko Liias, a Democrat from Edmonds who sponsored the legislation behind the annual adjustment, acknowledged the increase comes at a difficult time for household budgets but argued the tax remains essential to maintaining the state’s transportation infrastructure. “When we lose a bridge because it isn’t being maintained, when we have to close lanes because we can’t maintain them, that’s even worse for the economy,” Liias said. “So we’re trying to balance kind of keeping the system open, keeping it functional, with the fact that obviously all of us are struggling with costs right now.”

State officials estimate the gas tax brings in approximately $250 million per month. That revenue flows into the Motor Vehicle Fund, which finances road construction projects across the state, with approximately 5% distributed directly to cities and counties.

Electric vehicle drivers contribute to the same fund through a different mechanism, paying an additional $225 fee each year when renewing their vehicle registration rather than paying at the pump. Liias said the state is currently evaluating whether that fee structure keeps pace with the funding needs of an increasingly electrified vehicle fleet.