ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia drivers will soon pay more at the pump after Governor Brian Kemp decided not to extend the state’s temporary suspension of the gas tax.The suspension, which provided relief on the state’s 33-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and 37-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel, will officially expire at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday night.
The taxes are expected to phase back in over the next few days.The move comes after the governor renewed the suspension to help families manage fuel costs during the Memorial Day weekend. With oil prices now holding relatively steady, the administration has chosen to let the relief expire while maintaining flexibility for future needs.In a statement, a spokesperson for Governor Kemp said:
“After renewing the suspension of the state gas tax to help hardworking Georgians get through the Memorial Day weekend with further relief, and with oil prices now holding relatively steady, the gas tax suspension will expire at 11:59pm tomorrow while the state also keeps a financial eye toward any unexpected needs in the future.”
The temporary waiver had offered Georgia motorists noticeable savings during a busy summer travel season. Its end means the full state fuel taxes will once again be added to the price of every gallon purchased in the state.Motorists are advised to fill up before midnight Tuesday where possible to take advantage of the final hours of the lower tax rate.
Tips to Save Gas and Stretch Your Dollars
With prices rising again, here are some practical ways Georgia drivers can reduce fuel consumption:
- Drive smarter: Avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking. Maintain a steady speed and use cruise control on highways.
- Keep tires properly inflated: Underinflated tires can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 3%. Check pressure monthly.
- Lighten the load: Remove unnecessary heavy items from your trunk — every extra 100 pounds can decrease efficiency by about 1%.
- Combine trips and carpool: Fewer short trips mean less idling and cold starts, which burn extra fuel.
- Maintain your vehicle: Replace dirty air filters, keep up with oil changes, and get regular tune-ups to ensure optimal engine performance.
- Use AC wisely: At lower speeds, open windows instead of running the air conditioner; at highway speeds, close windows and use AC.
Motorists are advised to fill up before midnight Tuesday where possible to take advantage of the final hours of the lower tax rate. The state will continue to monitor energy markets and economic conditions moving forward.
The state will continue to monitor energy markets and economic conditions moving forward. For more details on the policy change, visit the official announcement here.