Gas Prices to Skyrocket This Summer

If it feels like you're dumping your paycheck at the pump, you're not alone. Unfortunately, it's about to get worse. At the beginning of the year, Washington State had the second highest motor fuel tax rates in the nation. While several states decreased their gas taxes, the recently (and rare) even-numbered year transportation package is chock full of tax and fee increases that will be paid for by taxpayers.

Soon, drivers can expect to pay at least 85.5 cents in gas tax per gallon, a nearly 30% increase over the now 67.8 cents. Add this to the already increasing costs due to what’s happening in Ukraine, and the answer is pointing toward gas prices of $6-7 per gallon this summer.

We can also expect to pay higher fees since the transportation package relies on fee increases of up to 400%. An example of this is the increase of license plate fees on motorcycles and cars. If a driver wants an original license plate, rather than paying the current $10, it will soon be $50, while a replacement license plate will cost $30. If you own a motorcycle, an original license plate will increase from $4 to $20, and $12 for a replacement. These increases go into effect in July.

Enhanced driver’s license and identicards will also cost more. For a six-year license, the fee will increase from $24 to $42. For an eightyear license, the fee will increase from $32 to $56. This begins in October.

The stolen vehicle check fee will also increase. If someone moves to Washington from a different state, they will need a replacement title. The state requires a mandatory check to make sure the vehicle is not stolen before they issue the replacement title.

The transportation package increased the fee from $15 to $50 starting in July, and then further to $75 in 2026.

You can view a list of taxes and fees that fund the transportation package at tinyurl.com/2022gashike including the increases mentioned above, along with other increases as well as legislative transfers from other parts of the budget.

The Highlights of Move Ahead Washington

$5.4B toward carbon reduction and multimodal expansion.

$3B for maintenance and preservation.

$3B for public transportation; free fares for passengers 18 and younger on all public transportation.

$2.4B to fund fish passage barrier removals.

$1.3B in active transportation, including Safe Routes to School and school-based bike programs.

$1B to fund Washington’s portion of an I‐5 replacement bridge across the Columbia River.

$836M to build four new hybrid-electric ferries. $150M towards ultra-high-speed rail.

$50M for walking and biking infrastructure in underinvested communities, and more.