States Saving The Most Money On Gas

"MojoMotors.com" (MojoMotors)
11/10/2014 at 09:22 • Filed to: gas, money, oil prices

Oil prices are falling sharply and lower oil prices leads to lower gas prices. Before you buy that SUV you always wanted, you might want to find out how much you can really save. We already told you about !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but now we figured out what states are benefiting the most from the recent drop in gas prices. To find this out, we looked at a few metrics like miles driven per year and gas prices based on the 2014 high and low as of October 2014.

We gathered gas prices from GasBuddy.com, a terrific resource for looking at gas prices by state or city. They also have a cool app that helps you find the cheapest gas near you. The average mileage driven by state came from a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! conducted by US Public Interest Research Groups.

Top 10 States Saving the Most

1. Indiana - $515.21

2. Alabama - $507.53

3. Ohio - $504.40

4. Mississippi - $449.37

5. Kentucky - $441.10

6. Georgia - $425.98

7. Michigan - $420.70

8. Tennessee - $415.44

9. Missouri - $407.98

10. Delaware - $393.10

We determined these states are saving the most by dividing average miles driven per year by the average miles per gallon and then multiplying by the decrease in price. Simple, right? We assumed the average miles per gallon on a vehicle was 20. The less fuel efficient your car is, the more you will save. Let's say you live in Indiana and drive an old Suburban, you could save over $700 if gas prices stay flat. If they fall more, you save more.

So why are these states saving the most? Well, it's a few different reasons. Either these states have a high gas tax, their drivers put more miles on their cars each year than drivers in other states or the price of gas just dropped more. Take Michigan or Indiana, for example, with a gas tax above 40 cents per gallon. States like Alabama or Missouri have some of the most well-traveled citizens, logging over 11,000 miles behind the wheel each year.

Now let's pause for Kanye to make it rain.

States with Biggest Drop in Gas Prices

Ohio - 26%

Indiana - 22%

Michigan - 22%

Delaware - 21%

Tennessee - 21%

South Carolina - 21%

Kentucky - 21%

Alabama - 21%

Georgia - 21%

Illinois - 21%

California - 21%

Just because these states have the biggest drop in gas prices, doesn't mean drivers are actually saving the most. In California where gas prices are among the highest in the country, a 21% drop still might not be a relief for drivers. On the flip side, in South Carolina where gas prices are the lowest in the nation, that extra 21% probably makes gas seem practically free.

Now that you know the states saving the most and which have seen gas prices drop more than anywhere else, let's look at the losers.

Top 10 States Saving the Least

Hawaii - $127.77

Alaska - $156.02

New York - $176.19

Utah - $203.85

District of Columbia - $224.61

Montana - $227.20

Rhode Island - $227.70

Idaho - $240.82

Massachusetts - $243.72

South Dakota - $250.16

We used the same calculation to find the states saving the most to find the states saving the least. While states in Midwest and South are saving the most, it's the coastal and sparsely populated states that are seeing the fewest savings. Sorry Hawaii and Alaska. And as you can see below, it's the sparsely populated states with the smallest drop in gas prices.

States with Smallest Drop in Gas Prices

Hawaii - 8%

Wyoming - 10%

Montana - 11%

Alaska - 12%

Utah - 12%

North Dakota - 13%

Idaho - 13%

South Dakota - 13%

Vermont - 14%

Nebraska - 14%

So what does this all mean? Move to the South. Roll Tide. The Midwest is also an option. Go Hoosiers.

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DISCUSSION (100)

Brian Silvestro > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 09:24

Of course NY is one of the worst ;_;

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 09:28

Meanwhile in Hong Kong, it's US$9.4 a gallon.

//laughs sadly

Leon711 > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 09:29

pah, those aren't real gas prices try $7 a gallon in the UK.

Samuel Jackson > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
11/10/2014 at 10:53

Wow, maybe that is why Chinese auto makers are putting so many resources into alternative energy sources, especially electric cars.

MojoMotors.com > Samuel Jackson
11/10/2014 at 10:59

Yeah, especially BYD. The Chinese government has introduced a great deal of legislation that incentivizes the development of green automotive tech.

PeteRR > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 11:22

Just got back to the CA. The cheapest station I see regularly, in Mojave, was $2.15 per. That is the lowest regular I've seen in 6 or 7 years.

MojoMotors.com > PeteRR
11/10/2014 at 11:26

$2.15 ain't bad. Has anyone seen under $2.00?

TheSemTeK > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
11/10/2014 at 11:27

In the Netherlands it's about $ 7,60 per gallon, I thought that was expensive, but $ 9.40 is insane.

Wattsup > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 11:36

" Take Michigan or Indiana, for example, with a gas tax above 40 cents per gallon. As gas prices go down, so does the amount a state is pulling in on taxes."

This is incorrect. With taxes set at X cents per gallon, states take in the same amount of tax revenue per gallon regardless of price. If anything, miles driven tend to go up when gas prices fall, which would result in more gallons bought and more tax revenue raised.

jbarr > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 11:50

GasBuddy Rocks!

We paid $2.50/gal in Anderson, South Carolina over the weekend. One station now has it for $2.48.

If you don't use GasBuddy , you are seriously missing out on finding deals. Use a smartphone app or their Web site. It doesn't matter which, just use it!

MojoMotors.com > jbarr
11/10/2014 at 11:57

Glad you had some success with GasBuddy, jbarr. We're big fans.

hothfoxy > Brian Silvestro
11/10/2014 at 12:07

I saw $2.95 this weekend, but it's back up over $3 again Sunday evening, even with my Fastrac discount card. I hate New York most of the time.

MojoMotors.com > hothfoxy
11/10/2014 at 12:26

You might hate our city most of the time, but at least Taylor Swift is on our side!

Kinja'd!!!

Sean Hales > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 12:36

And in Alaska we got excited last week to see the price drop down to $3.95. First time in years I've paid below $4.00 a gallon.

dogjudge > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 12:44

The price of gas is only part of the picture.

Some states tax gasoline the way that the federal government does, at a flat number.

Other states (such as Illinois where I live) tax gasoline as a percentage.

Two states. One taxes gas at $0.10/gallon. Price of gasoline goes from $2.00 to $4.00. Tax remains the same for the state and the feds.

Now let's say that your state uses 5%. When the price goes from $2.00 to $4.00, your tax has just gone from $0.10/gallon to $0.20/gallon.

MojoMotors.com > dogjudge
11/10/2014 at 13:29

Thats's a good point, dogjudge. Thanks for sharing.

Rufus Sickbeard > Wattsup
11/10/2014 at 13:29

Incorrect. Indiana charges state sales tax on gas sales. So a $.50/gal decrease in price like we've seen over the last couple of months also means a $.035/gal decrease in tax revenue.

I'm not sure about Michigan.

MojoMotors.com > Sean Hales
11/10/2014 at 13:30

I hear dogsleds get great MPGs on the highway.

kerryto > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 13:31

Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail

———————————> www.jobs7000.com

MojoMotors.com > TheSemTeK
11/10/2014 at 13:32

$7.60 is still crazy high. Imagine what would happen if prices jumped up to those levels here in the US. We'd have a mutiny on our hands!

joed782 > hothfoxy
11/10/2014 at 14:43

3.40 in this rural part of the state. I did see 3.09 in PA.

seity > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 14:45

FYI - NY is a whole state. I also hate NY most of the time, mostly because NYC seems to forget/ignore the rest of the state.

Wattsup > Rufus Sickbeard
11/10/2014 at 14:45

I stand corrected! I've never lived in a state where they charge a percentage like that. The way the sentence was worded made me assume that they charge a 40 cent per gallon tax, not that the current tax rate works out to 40 cents per gallon at the current price.

Cheers!

Jack Does Cars > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 14:49

Kinja'd!!!

I thought that was Scranton.

Buckus > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 14:49

Woohoo! Time to buy an Escalade! Because gas prices can only go down. Right guys? guys?

Jack Does Cars > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 14:50

Shout out to my home state of North Carolina for having the most average drop in gas prices.

For Sweden > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 14:53

If the price jumped to that level, the U.S. government would have enough extra tax revenue to put down any mutiny.

R W > jbarr
11/10/2014 at 14:53

my time is worth more than a few bucks a year.

DocJayHouse > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 14:53

It's okay, just shop in Venezuela for 0.01$/L or if you really hate commies, buy it in war thorn Syria for 0.05$/L.

For Sweden > Leon711
11/10/2014 at 14:54

Lower your taxes brah

chris209 > dogjudge
11/10/2014 at 14:54

I think IL taxes it twice, once as a flat tax and once as a percentage.

superhappyfuntime > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 14:55

As opposed to coal fired steam powered? She seems really smart.

ninjagin > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 14:57

It's 2.89 USD a gallon for regular unleaded out here in CO. I never thought I'd see the day, frankly.

Triborough > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 14:58

Paid $2.57 in Edison, New Jersey this morning.

punkgoose17 > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:03

Why have gas prices decreased? Less demand with more efficient new cars? Less government use because we are in a quasi war instead of more typical war? Lower natural gas prices creating lower oil demand causing a price drop? These are all just guesses.

MojoMotors.com > seity
11/10/2014 at 15:07

This Jalop personally is a HUGE fan of upstate NY.

David E. Davis > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:09

Kinja'd!!!

This one may have been funnier.

Kinja'd!!!

MojoMotors.com > Buckus
11/10/2014 at 15:09

Kinja'd!!!

mcbenz > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:10

I think the tax on gas in NY is a bit absurd. Majority of the commuters who either work or live in NJ or NY know to always fuel up in NJ. You are looking at almost a difference of $1 a gallon. For example, $2.60 a gal for 87 in NJ is $3.49 a gal in NY.

On top of that my vehicle takes 91 minimum.

MojoMotors.com > Jack Does Cars
11/10/2014 at 15:10

Ahh yes, the Most Average award. Very prestigious.

Doctor-G-and-the-wagen > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:11

Hey Ohio actually has something good going for it right now! But seriously I filled up the tank on premium today. Feels good man.

MojoMotors.com > ninjagin
11/10/2014 at 15:12

Not too shabby!

MojoMotors.com > Wattsup
11/10/2014 at 15:12

Thanks for clearing up the confusion.

Andraz3d > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
11/10/2014 at 15:14

In Slovenia, we are at 7,2 $.

MojoMotors.com > mcbenz
11/10/2014 at 15:15

Good call on filling up in NJ. Everything is more expensive in NYC. Trust us, we know that one personally.

Andraz3d > punkgoose17
11/10/2014 at 15:18

Less demand from US ( you have just invented natural gas), less growth in BRIC, less growth in Europe and, incredible, still steady supply from middle east. If sanctions on Iran eases, prices will drop some more. But this would push Russians to the edge, increasing the chance of full blown war in Ukraine. Crazy. And I dont believe in chemtrails.

StevenG > For Sweden
11/10/2014 at 15:19

I would rather have fixed roads and healthcare.

For Sweden > StevenG
11/10/2014 at 15:21

Fixed Roads

athought123 > For Sweden
11/10/2014 at 15:23

The gas tax is fixed... It doesnt matter that the gas price is at, the government only makes 18.4 cents to a gallon, and the states put on another 30 or so. So $7 per gallon tax is a bad news for the federal government if it's depending on that money to put down any rebellions

Equana > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:23

"As gas prices go down, so does the amount a state is pulling in on taxes"

Wrong, wrong, wrong. The state tax is on EACH gallon of gas. If the tax is 40 cents a gallon, if the price drops it is still 40 cents per gallon. The tax is NOT a percentage, it is a fixed price per gallon sold. The same for federal taxes. Likely the taxes collected will INCREASE because the lower price means people will travel more and buy less fuel efficient vehicles.

HammerheadFistpunch > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:25

Whats the deal Utah? you even have your own refinery?!

NeedSSpeed > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:25

My state is in the top 3 states with the biggest price drop. I see a CTS-V Wagon in my future.......

OneHeadLight > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:26

Those dollars saved numbers are accurate given that people drive the same number of miles regardless of the cost. The fact is, and there's a name for this that escapes me, when the price of a commodity comes down, people consume more of it, thus negating some of the effect of the price reduction. Likewise, when someone trades in a 15 mpg car for a 25 mpg car, chances are they'll drive more miles, thus offsetting some of the savings.

Also, if you live in NJ or other locales that have attendants, don't forget to tip the guy that pumps your gas. Yes. Think about it...hot, cold, rain, snow, breathing carcinogens. It's a service job, just like waiting tables.

Leonard1818 > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:26

As an Ohioan, I have heard mumblings about how much gas has come down lately. I don't really recall the last time I filled up and I know for certain I could not tell you how much it was then.

Ducky > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
11/10/2014 at 15:27

At least you guys have the MTR to get around. In the US, public transit isn't as easy as hopping downstairs in your pajamas and riding the train across the island to your grandma's flat... so most households outside of the mostly densely populated cities still need a car- you guys still have a choice. I imagine car use in HK mainly involves driving your Lamborghini around in Causeway Bay making loud noises around the shopping mainlanders.

MojoMotors.com > Equana
11/10/2014 at 15:28

You are right. Just removed that sentence from the post to prevent future confusion. Thanks for pointing it out.

SNL-LOL > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:28

Can we send her back to whichever fifth world shithole she came from?

MojoMotors.com > NeedSSpeed
11/10/2014 at 15:29

mmm CTS-V wagon... 556 HP worth of goodness!

MojoMotors.com > Leonard1818
11/10/2014 at 15:31

You must drive a Prius (or a moped) if you're oblivious to gas prices!

Ducky > Samuel Jackson
11/10/2014 at 15:32

That's on the Mainland, and that's because of pollution rather than just fuel. The government is tweaking subsidies strongly towards electric vehicles.

MojoMotors.com > SNL-LOL
11/10/2014 at 15:32

Probably not, but we won't knock you for trying.

R.S.D. > StevenG
11/10/2014 at 15:32

We'd rather have the freedom to die of medical neglect under our failing bridges.

SeaOfAshes > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:32

94Sentia > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:35

This article reminds me that I put 11k miles on my 72 F100 this year at about 11MPG. That is a lot of money :/

hothfoxy > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:36

I kind of wish NYC would just ... break off and float away. I was talking about Central New York.

hothfoxy > joed782
11/10/2014 at 15:36

I live in CNY and saw $2.95. Granted, it was at BJ's with member discount applied.

MojoMotors.com > 94Sentia
11/10/2014 at 15:40

A '72 F100 is meant to be driven, so we support that outlay of cash.

Pibbs says once you go Swede > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:43

Connecticut used to be 20-30 cents higher per gallon than Massachusetts or Rhode Island. I watched as they dropped to about the same level as either state over the past two months. I am now confused.

MojoMotors.com > OneHeadLight
11/10/2014 at 15:47

You're right, the drop in gas may result in increased consumption for some drivers. Now they can finally afford that road trip to Disney!

MojoMotors.com > David E. Davis
11/10/2014 at 15:48

Funnier, but perhaps less wholesome.

Papa Van Twee > dogjudge
11/10/2014 at 15:54

Indiana and Michigan use a percentage to determine tax. For Indiana, it's 7% on top of Indiana and National taxes (18 and 18.4 cents). Michigan is worse, they put a sales tax (6%) on top of the state and federal taxes (19 and 18.4 cents).

Papa Van Twee > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 15:55

Papa Van Twee > Papa Van Twee
11/10/2014 at 15:56

To clarify, Indiana taxes the cost of the gas, where Michigan taxes the gas, and the state and federal taxes.

MojoMotors.com > Papa Van Twee
11/10/2014 at 15:57

Not sure how we missed this percentage situation. Thanks for pointing it out.

kiwi_matt > Brian Silvestro
11/10/2014 at 15:58

If you can't afford a Tesla you can't afford to live in New York. Suck it poor people.

Mike_Smith > For Sweden
11/10/2014 at 16:01

If the actual market price jumped to that level, it wouldn't affect US tax revenue at all, since it's a fixed amount per gallon, not a percentage. Realistically, US tax revenues would tank while everyone was busy taking out home equity loans to be able to continue afford gas, since you know damn well they wouldn't stop driving.

Judd > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 16:01

Switchin' to mid grade!

LongTravel > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 16:01

Sure gasoline is the lowest we've seen in years, but why hasn't my beloved diesel fuel fallen at a similar rate. Dislike.

For Sweden > Mike_Smith
11/10/2014 at 16:02

That if is bigger than Matt Hardigree's wayfayer collection.

MojoMotors.com > LongTravel
11/10/2014 at 16:03

Great question. We'll have to look into that one.

Brian Silvestro > kiwi_matt
11/10/2014 at 16:09

Basically this

melikecars > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 16:10

I'll pay more if I can get 93 here in California. Stupid 91...

evilfacelessturtle (Hooning a Ford is Domestic Abuse) > For Sweden
11/10/2014 at 16:23

Unlike Miata, lower taxes is not always the answer.

Kinja'd!!!

MojoMotors.com > melikecars
11/10/2014 at 16:26

me like 93

TacMedic > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 16:41

Still around $4USD/gal in my part of Canada.

Tybera > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 17:05

Or we just might become more intelligent and invest in a worthwhile method of public transportation....

Nahhh, we'll just bitch and moan and not come up with an intelligent solution, we'll just drill up the countryside! :D

k4wht::lead singer, driver of the Winnebago > LongTravel
11/10/2014 at 17:10

Diesel prices are different in that not as much of a 55-gal barrel of crude ends up being diesel. Most of that barrel will go to gasoline, and the percentage doesn't really change in relation to demand. Yes, it is cheaper to produce as it's less refined than gas, but demand is higher since there is less on the market.

burner'down > kiwi_matt
11/10/2014 at 17:12

Downstate New York, definitely. Upstate, Central, Western, Southern Tier are all different stories. Most of those stories start with "Why do you want to live *there*?!?", but still. And for the record, I was freakin' THRILLED to pay $3.39/gallon last week, in southeastern Westchester County. My Tesla-owning neighbors laugh at me...

bubbajoe123456 > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 17:12

"Just because these states have the biggest drop in gas prices, doesn't mean drivers are actually saving the most. In California where gas prices are among the highest in the country, a 21% drop still might not be a relief for drivers."

The higher the prices are, the bigger the savings a given % drop will be. The only reason the $ savings aren't higher in California is that the average car owner there drives fewer miles than in some other states.

pdoten > OneHeadLight
11/10/2014 at 17:21

Price elasticity of demand. Hey, I remembered something from college after all!

bigdog2014 > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 17:22

Putting 87 in the FoST with the cheap prices, so hard to say no to the sub $3 gallon and $29 fill up. hey the engineers put ok'd it in the manual so guilt free and a little less HP.

RandomScreenName > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
11/10/2014 at 17:34

Pufft. A parking space is $547,000 . If you can afford that, $9.40 gas is a practically free.

Seeing that Hong Kong Island is all of 30 square miles, that one gallon should last months.

green_man_group > Mike_Smith
11/10/2014 at 17:36

Some of us can't AFFORD to stop driving. I have an 88 mile commute round trip.

You might say move, but it isn't that simple. The cost of living near where I work is much higher.

C-Rod > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 17:45

I got gas for $2.40 at the Costco here in southern LA (the state not the city)! My Bronco II is getting her drink on.

MojoMotors.com > bigdog2014
11/10/2014 at 17:51

sub 3 is hard to resist. Good on you for double checking the manual though.

MojoMotors.com > Tybera
11/10/2014 at 17:52

hyperloop...

TedMarmaladeModo > StevenG
11/10/2014 at 17:58

So apply a regressive tax? lol

Tybera > MojoMotors.com
11/10/2014 at 18:00

LOL, not maintainable or feasible. Let me give you an example. In California there is the Amtrak and the metro, and the prices are all effed up for all of the stations, and there are weird places that they go to.

In Georgia the MARTA train has a flat price for everyone, which is another stupid idea. You could go a station over for the same price as going all the way across town. Neither systems are maintained/or cleaned up/littering not enforced well, which makes New York's subway a shit pile, and metro/train systems don't work for the other 90% of the country. It's pathetic how much money we invest in fossil fuels federally as opposed to public transport.

Wagonboy > StevenG
11/10/2014 at 18:13

I'd like fixed roads, too. State governments should keep their mitts out of the funds raised through gas and highway usage fees/taxes that are ear-marked for transportation infrastructure maintenance and construction. And pay for your own healthcare, please.

dimag05 > StevenG
11/10/2014 at 18:15

Why do you hate America?