You may not believe this when you stop to fuel up your vehicle, but Virginia actually has lower fuel prices than many other areas of the country.  Virginia ranks 36th highest in terms of the statewide average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline among the 50 states and D.C. as of July 1, 2011.
 
One of the reasons that Virginia has lower fuel prices than many other areas is the level of gasoline taxes and fees collected throughout the state.  Virginia ranks 41st highest among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in statewide average taxes and fees collected on each gallon of unleaded gasoline as of July 1, 2011.  Currently the statewide excise tax on unleaded gasoline is 17.5 cents per gallon, a level that has not been increased since 1986.  In addition to the excise tax, 0.6 cents per gallon is collected statewide for the petroleum underground storage tank fund.  An additional 2% sales tax is also collected in Northern Virginia for public transportation improvements, a tax that is not collected in Hampton Roads.

All six states or districts that border Virginia have higher taxes and fees, with North Carolina’s rate being more than fifteen cents higher per gallon.  In spite of this fifteen cent difference, North Carolina's average fuel price is only eight cents higher than Virginia's price.