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NJ drivers hit with 9% state gas tax hike to kick off new year
nypost.com ^ | December 31, 2025 | Ryan King

Posted on 01/01/2026 12:29:26 PM PST by lowbridge

New Jersey drivers are about to get hit with a nearly 9% hike in the state’s gas tax — leaving them once again grappling with one of the highest rates in the country.

Thanks to legislation signed into law in 2024, the state — the only one in the nation to not allow self-service pumps — is raising its gas tax by 4.2 cents to 49.1 cents for gasoline and 56.1 cents for diesel Jan. 1.

The jump would average out to about $27 more per year per driver, for a total cost of $320 just for the state gas tax alone, according to the latest figures available, 2022.

“People in New Jersey are paying some of the highest gas tax rates in the country,” Alex Stevens, manager of policy and communications at the Institute for Energy Research, told The Post.

-snip

On New Year’s Eve, New Jerseyans were paying an average of $2.833 per gallon of gas, which was just a touch lower than the $2.839 national average, according to data from the American Automobile Association.

“Even with the high gas tax, you know, the gas prices in the state are mostly a consequence of just sort of the existing infrastructure that people have in New Jersey there,” Stevens said.

“The state is geographically kind of located close by places of high demand. So they built a lot there.”

Gas prices have been trending down across the country in recent weeks, dropping to pre-pandemic levels for the first time in about five years.

New Jersey’s increase is the result of legislation that outgoing Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed in 2024 to jack up the tax in annual increments between 2025 and 2029.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: newjersey; taxes
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1 posted on 01/01/2026 12:29:26 PM PST by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

They voted for it, embrace the suck.


2 posted on 01/01/2026 12:30:43 PM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: lowbridge

NJ folks love their Democrats and high taxes. But it could be worse, they could live in NYC ...


3 posted on 01/01/2026 12:33:39 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: dfwgator

We don’t know that.

If they didn’t vote for this, they should have our support, not our disdain.


4 posted on 01/01/2026 12:35:39 PM PST by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 )
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To: dfwgator

(NJ drivers hit with 9% state gas tax hike to kick off new year)

KEEP VOTING DEMOCRAT, NEW JERSEY!!

It’s working!! 🤣😆😂😄😸😹😹


5 posted on 01/01/2026 12:36:28 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: lowbridge

Greaseball Gavin “Hold my Beer’ California 61.2 cents per gallon. And the that tax is tied to inflation, automatically goes up yearly. WHAT A FRICKING JOKE.


6 posted on 01/01/2026 12:39:04 PM PST by DAC21
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To: mewzilla

This is a common meme on Free Republic, to wish ill on any places in America which have voted for increased taxes , or do other things that contrast with our conservative values.

I agree with you and disagree with that meme. Even the most liberal states and localities in America, have people who agree with us, and who are not liberal idiots who voted for the things that we criticize here.


7 posted on 01/01/2026 12:39:09 PM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: mewzilla; dfwgator

AI Overview

The New Jersey gas tax hike for 2026 isn’t a new, single invention but an automatic annual increase mandated by a 2024 law (Chapter 7), which established a formula tied to the state’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) to ensure sufficient funding for infrastructure, with (DEMOCRAT) Governor Phil Murphy signing the underlying legislation

The 2016 increase was bipartisan under Miss Piggy Chris Christie


8 posted on 01/01/2026 12:40:48 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: dfwgator

Twice.
Because it was sold off to them as only targeting out of state drivers to make them “pay their fair share”.


9 posted on 01/01/2026 12:42:42 PM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
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To: lowbridge
the state — the only one in the nation to not allow self-service pumps

I guess Oregon changed its rule. Another reason the gas prices in NJ are higher than they should be.

10 posted on 01/01/2026 12:42:59 PM PST by mikey_hates_everything
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To: mikey_hates_everything

My sister and BIL live in Portland, OR and used to laugh that they had to have a licensed gasologist pump their gas but then they’d defend it saying the person pumping their gas was less likely to spill it on the ground.


11 posted on 01/01/2026 12:49:26 PM PST by Mean Daddy
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To: lowbridge

Swallow, my psychopaths. Enjoy the suck.


12 posted on 01/01/2026 12:51:05 PM PST by blackdog (The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.)
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To: lowbridge

Well they gotta keep funding the fraud across America!


13 posted on 01/01/2026 12:52:17 PM PST by high info voter (Delivery )
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To: lowbridge

LAST I EXPERIENCED-—OREGON ALSO DO?ES NOT ALLOW DRIVERS TO PUMP THEIR OWN FUEL.


14 posted on 01/01/2026 12:59:37 PM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: mewzilla

I don’t underestimate the stupidity of the average American voter.


15 posted on 01/01/2026 1:00:20 PM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: Dilbert San Diego
Like the folks hereabouts on FR who post that it would be a good thing if California dropped off into the ocean because of foolish voting choices of the majority, ignoring the fact that over 25% of the electorate is GOP registered, and nobody deserves drowning for their political leanings.

It would, however, be nice if the Citizens of "blue" states would get all the facts before voting, and maybe even learn from their mistakes.

16 posted on 01/01/2026 1:03:57 PM PST by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never...in nothing, great or small...Winston ChurchIill)
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To: dfwgator

(it would be a good thing if California dropped off into the ocean)

That’ll be the day I move back to Annandale


17 posted on 01/01/2026 1:17:59 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: lowbridge

In WA state, they raised the tax on nicotine products 95%. That is on Vapes, lozenges, patches, Zyn, Alp, and chewing tobacco. Making them equal in price to cigarettes.


18 posted on 01/01/2026 1:21:12 PM PST by Glad2bnuts
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To: SaveFerris

Guadalajara won’t do?


19 posted on 01/01/2026 1:34:44 PM PST by Rummyfan (Ok In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support lthe civilized man.👨 so t tv)
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To: lowbridge

Getting reamed in NJ and other dusty old Democratic states. Where the bureaucrats paychecks come first. Illinois, California, NY are about the worst for larded bureaucracies feeding at the public trough


20 posted on 01/01/2026 1:37:50 PM PST by dennisw (There is no limit to human stupidity / )
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